Adequacy of nutrients and dietary diversity of rural farmers households In Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

Background: No single food can afford adequate nutrients required to achieve optimal health. The more food is diversified in the daily intake, the greater opportunity towards meeting nutrient requirements.

Objective: The study examined nutrient adequacy and dietary diversity of rural farmers in Southeast Nigeria.

Methods: Food Processor software was used to analyze nutrient intake of 213 farming households randomly selected from southeast Nigeria. Adequacy of calorie was achieved by comparing households' mean intake with their EER, while other macronutrients adequacy was achieved by comparing average intake with AMDR. Vitamins and minerals' adequacy was achieved by comparing mean intake with either EAR or AI.

Results: The finding indicates that the mean income of the rural farmers was ₦37,093.89, while average household size was 6 persons. Higher percentage (60.1%) of the respondents had moderate dietary diversity in the immediate past 24 hours of the study. The average energy intake per day (2766.14kcal) of the respondents exceed their mean EER (2012.78kcal). The mean energy intakes from fat (24.11%), protein (13.79%), and carbohydrate (62.06%) were within their respective Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range. Average intakes of Thiamine (6.47mg/day), Vitamin D (3.10mcg/day), and Vitamin E (4.95mg/day) were below their respective Estimated Average Requirement. Sodium (2183.18mg/day), phosphorus (1059.21mg/day), and copper (76.71mg/day) average intake were above their respective Estimated Average Requirement.

Conclusion: Respondents' average intake of fat, protein, and carbohydrate were within the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range while intake of most of the vitamins and minerals were inadequate.