Nazmul Hassan

Food chain aspects of arsenic contamination in Bangladesh: effects on quality and productivity of rice.

Abstract The total arsenic content of 150 paddy rice samples collected from Barisal, Comilla, Dinajpur, Kaunia, and Rajshahi districts, and from the BRRI experimental station at Rajshahi city in the boro and aman seasons of 2000 was determined by hydride generation-inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP). Arsenic concentrations varied from 10 to 420 µg/kg at 14% moisture content. Rice yields and grain arsenic concentrations were 1.5 times higher in the boro (winter) than the summer (monsoon) season, consistent with the much greater use of groundwater for irrigation in the boro season. Mean values for the boro and aman season rices were 183 and 117 µg/kg, respectively. The variation in arsenic concentrations in rice was only partially consistent with the pattern of arsenic concentrations in drinking water tube wells. There was no evidence from yield or panicle sterility data of arsenic toxicity to rice. Processing of rice (parboiling and milling) reduced arsenic concentrations in rice by an average of 19% in 21 samples collected from households. Human exposure to arsenic through rice would be equivalent to half of that in water containing 50 µg/kg for 14% of the paddy rice samples at rice and water intake levels of 400 g and 4 L/cap/day, respectively.

Food consumption, energy and nutrient intake and nutritional status in rural Bangladesh: changes from 1981 - 1982 to 1995 - 96

Objective: To determine and evaluate changes in nutritional status, food consumption, energy and nutrient intake in rural Bangladesh, using appropriate statistical analyses.Design: Repeated cross-sectional surveys. Two seasons in 1981–1982 and 1995–1996.Setting: Two villages with different production patterns.Subjects: Anthropometric measurements of 1883 individuals, food consumption data of 404 households.Methods: Repeated measurements of one-day food weighing and anthropometry in two seasons in 1981–1982 and 1995–1996. Mixed model analyses were used to evaluate and quantify temporal changes and their interactions with determinants.Results: Prevalence of underweight children decreased from 82 to 70% (P=0.015), wasted children from 34% to 18% (P=0.009) and chronic energy deficient adults decreased from 78 to 64% (P<0.0001). Intake of fish and green leafy vegetables increased from (l.s. mean±s.e.) 23±3.0 to 40±1.8 g/person/day (P<0.001) and from 28±4.5 to 41±2.7 g/person/day (P=0.019), respectively. Rice intake remained unchanged: 463±12 g raw/person/day in 1981–1982 and 450±7.3 g raw/person/day in 1995–1996 (P=0.355). Calcium and iron intakes increased by 40% (P<0.0001) and 16% (P=0.0002), respectively, whereas vitamin A intake remained unchanged.Conclusions: Nutritional status improved and intakes of nutrient dense food groups, fat, iron and calcium increased from 1981–1982 to 1995–1996.Sponsorship: Supported by the Danish Council for Research in Developing Countries, the Bilateral Programme for Enhancement of Research Capacity in Developing Countries (ENRECA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark and the Ford Foundation.

Why Does Nutrition Deteriorate Rapidly among Children under 2 Years of Age? Using Qualitative Methods to Understand Community Perspectives on Complementary Feeding Practices in Bangladesh

Background Child undernutrition remains high in South Asian and sub-Saharan African countries. Rapid declines in nutritional status occur before the age of 2 years, particularly during the period of complementary feeding. Improving complementary feeding practices is a neglected area in nutrition programs. Objective To understand community perspectives on complementary feeding practices in order to inform the design of future interventions for improved complementary feeding. Methods From May through August 2009, data were collected in two rural locations and one urban location in Bangladesh through semistructured interviews, food attributes exercises, 24-hour dietary recalls, opportunistic observations, and trials of improved practices (TIPs). Key informant interviews and focus group discussions were also carried out among family members and community opinion leaders. Results Lay perceptions about complementary feeding differ substantially from international complementary feeding recommendations. A large proportion of children do not consume sufficient amounts of complementary foods to meet their energy and micronutrient needs. There was a gap in knowledge about appropriate complementary foods in terms of quality and quantity and strategies to convert family foods to make them suitable for children. Complementary feeding advice from family members, peers, and health workers, the importance given to feeding young children, and time spent by caregivers in feeding influenced the timing, frequency, types of food given, and ways in which complementary feeding occurred. Conclusions Perceptions and practices related to complementary feeding need to be effectively addressed to improve the levels of child undernutrition. Lack of understanding of childrens nutritional needs and insufficient time for feeding children are key barriers to complementary feeding.

Seasonal patterns of food intake in rural Bangladesh: Its impact on nutritional status

The influence of seasonal variations in dietary intakes and nutritional status was examined in two rural villages of Bangladesh covering a population of 600. The results suggest considerable seasonal variations in intakes and prevalence of malnutrition depending on agricultural productivity. Intakes of almost all food was found to be the lowest in late October‐early November and May‐June period, the months preceding the two major rice (aman and aus) harvests. A higher incidence of malnutrition was accordingly seen during these periods. Alternative strategies in food production and availability seem to be needed to eliminate the severe consequences of malnutrition and to assist in alleviating rural poverty.

The nutrition profile of the slum dwellers: A comparison with the rural poor

In 1985–86 a nutrition survey covering about one thousand people was performed in 4 selected urban slums of Dhaka city. Each slum had 400 or more households. The study revealed an alarming situation for the urban poor and when compared with the situation of the rural poor as had been determined in 1981–82, the latter were found to have better status. Intake of almost all foods and nutrients was lower among the slum dwellers when compared to those of the rural poor. Consumption of cereals, fish, milk and milk products was found to be very low. Among nutrients, the foremost deficiency was that of energy in which 88% of the slum households did not meet their requirement. In slum areas 80% of families had protein intakes below estimated requirements while in poor rural households the proportion was only 59 percent. Of the micro‐nutrients the severest deficiencies were in respect of riboflavin and vitamin A. The prevalence of malnutrition was generally higher among the children of slum dwellers than it was amo...

Estimated nutrient intakes and adequacies in Bangladesh change when newer values for vitamin A, iron and calcium in commonly consumed foods are applied.

A food consumption survey was conducted in rural Bangladesh in January–March 1996 using a 24-h food weighing method. Intakes and adequacies of energy, vitamin A, vitamin C, iron and calcium were estimated for 81 children (aged 24–71 months) and 182 women (aged 18–45 years) using three sets of food composition tables. The local food composition table was modified with newer values for nutrient contents of foods identified as important for the contribution of vitamin A and iron. Significant differences in estimated dietary intakes and adequacies were found for vitamin A and iron when different sets of food composition values were used. This study shows that up-to-date chemical analyses of foods selected on the basis of a high frequency of consumption and a large contribution of the nutrients in focus is a useful approach in improving the quality of food composition tables, resulting in greater accuracy of estimates of nutrient intakes and adequacies.

A Food-Based Approach to Improving Zinc Nutrition Through Increasing the Zinc Content of Rice in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT Improvements in micronutrient content or bioavailability of staples can impact diet. We aimed to assess variability of rice zinc at field, household, and village levels, and its association with dietary zinc and nutritional status of children. Rice samples were collected from farmers and 156 households in 4 villages in Bangladesh. Hair samples were used to assess zinc nutritional status. Soil pH, soil zinc, and rice variety were associated with rice zinc content. In 2 villages milling losses of zinc were very different: 24±10% and 39±11% (p < 0.001). Rice supplied 66±16% of zinc in the diet of 2–10 yr old children. Dietary zinc density was 1.00±0.24 and 1.35±0.24 mg/1000kJ (p < 0.001) respectively in the village with the lowest compared to the highest rice zinc. Hair zinc was positively associated with rice zinc (r = 0.24 p = 0.001) suggesting improvements to the nutrient content of rice could result in nutritional benefit. Optimizing rice zinc through choice of varieties, soil management, and processing could improve zinc nutrition in Bangladesh.

Studies on food and nutrient intake by rural population of Bangladesh: Comparison between intakes of 1962–64, 1975–76 and 1981–82

In 1981–82 a nationwide food consumption survey covering 4000 people was carried out in 12 statistically selected rural locations of Bangladesh. Comparison of the results with those of the 1975–76 and 1962–64 studies revealed an alarming food and nutrition situation in the country. Intakes of almost all foods and nutrients had decreased. Consumption of pulses and food from animal sources in particular had seriously declined. The foremost deficiency was of energy in which 76% of families consumed less than the requirement. Seventy‐seven percent of families consumed inadequate protein, but in 25% there would not have been a protein problem had there been an adequate supply of nonprotein sources of energy. Of the micronutrients the severest deficiencies were riboflavin and retinol. Eighty‐seven percent of families consumed less than the recommended level of ascorbic acid.

Studies on food and nutrient intake by urban population of Bangladesh : comparison between intakes of 1962-64 and 1985-86

In 1985–86 a food consumption survey covering about 4000 people was carried out in 11 locations of Dhaka city. Comparison of the results with those of the 1962–64 study revealed a deteriorating food and nutrition situation of the urban population. Among food groups, consumption of pulses and food from animal sources in particular have greatly declined. Among nutrients the foremost deficiency was of energy in which 68% of families consumed less than the requirement. A similar percentage of families consumed inadequate protein, but in 23% of them there would not have been a protein problem had there been an adequate supply of other sources of food energy. Among the micronutrients the severest deficiencies were of riboflavin and vitamin A. Forty two percent of families consumed less than the recommended level of ascorbic acid. A comparison of intake patterns in urban and rural areas shows several differences, even though the pattern of intake of dietary consituents was similar.