Consuming cassava as a staple food places children 2-5 years old at risk for inadequate protein intake, an observational study in Kenya and Nigeria

Table 3 Diet survey of cassava consuming children

	Nigeria n = 656	Kenya n = 449
Protein Intake
Total protein intake (g/kg)	2.5 ± 1.2	1.2 ± 0.9
Dietary protein: energy ratio	9.7 ± 3.8	8.4 ± 3.8
Children with protein intake ≥ 1.1 g/kg*	569 (87%)	212 (47%)
Children with protein-energy ratio ≥ 5.3%	596 (91%)	245 (55%)
Energy, zinc and iron intake
Energy intake (kcal/kg)	84 ± 10	76 ± 8
Zinc intake (mg)	3.1 ± 1.8	3.3 ± 2.2
Iron intake (mg)	9.1 ± 5.8	6.0 ± 4.1
Cassava consumption
> 50% of dietary energy from cassava	74 (11%)	295 (66%)
25-50% of dietary energy from cassava	156 (24%)	103 (23%)
15-25% of dietary energy from cassava	102 (15%)	17 (4%)
5-15% of dietary energy from cassava	130 (20%)	15 (3%)
<5% of dietary energy from cassava	194 (30%)	19 (4%)
Dietary Diversity
Household dietary diversity score (0-12)**	4.0 ± 1.4	4.5 ± 1.3
Number of different food items consumed	7.0 ± 2.7	4.6 ± 1.2
Consumed an animal-source food	271 (41%)	319 (71%)

Data expressed as mean ± standard deviation or n (%)
*Chosen to an adequate level of protein intake on the basis of WHO/FAO/UNU consultation [3]
**FANTA Household Dietary Diversity Score [22]

ISSN: 1475-2891