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The calcium and phosphorus intakes of rural Gambian women during pregnancy and lactation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Ann Prentice ,
M. Ann Laskey ,
Jacquie Shaw ,
Geoffrey J. Hudson ,
Kenneth C. Day ,
Landing M. A. Jarjou ,
Bakary Dibba  and
Alison A. Paul
Ann Prentice
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Dunn Nutrition Unit, Downhams Lane, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1XJ, UK, and Keneba, The Gambia
M. Ann Laskey
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Dunn Nutrition Unit, Downhams Lane, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1XJ, UK, and Keneba, The Gambia
Jacquie Shaw
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Dunn Nutrition Unit, Downhams Lane, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1XJ, UK, and Keneba, The Gambia
Geoffrey J. Hudson
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Dunn Nutrition Unit, Downhams Lane, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1XJ, UK, and Keneba, The Gambia
Kenneth C. Day
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Dunn Nutrition Unit, Downhams Lane, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1XJ, UK, and Keneba, The Gambia
Landing M. A. Jarjou
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Dunn Nutrition Unit, Downhams Lane, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1XJ, UK, and Keneba, The Gambia
Bakary Dibba
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Dunn Nutrition Unit, Downhams Lane, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1XJ, UK, and Keneba, The Gambia
Alison A. Paul
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Dunn Nutrition Unit, Downhams Lane, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1XJ, UK, and Keneba, The Gambia
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Abstract

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The Ca and P intakes of 148 pregnant and lactating women in a rural village in The Gambia. West Africa, have been estimated by direct weighing of food on a total of 4188 d. The Ca and P contents of local foods were determined by analysis of raw ingredients, snack foods and prepared dishes. Information about the contribution of mineral-rich seasonings was obtained. Efforts were made to discover unusual sources of Ca that might not be perceived as food by subject or observer. The main contributors to daily Ca intake were shown to be leaves, fish, cereals, groundnuts and local salt. Cow's milk accounted for only 5 % of Ca intake. Unusual sources of Ca were discovered, namely baobab (Adansonia digitata) fruit and selected earths, but these were consumed infrequently and their contributions to Ca intakes were small. Cereals and groundnuts were the main sources of P. Ca and P intakes (mg/d) were shown to average 404 (SD 110) and 887 (SD 219) respectively. Seasonal changes in the availability of leaves, cereals and groundnuts resulted in variations in Ca and P intakes. The rainy season was associated with increased Ca intakes (by 16%) but decreased P consumption (by 15%). No difference was observed in Ca intake between pregnant and lactating women but P intake in lactation was 11 % higher than that in pregnancy during the post-harvest season. The implications of these low Ca intakes require investigation.

Keywords

CalciumPhosphorusPregnancyLactation
Type
Mineral Metabolism
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 69 , Issue 3 , May 1993 , pp. 885 - 896
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1993

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