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DIET AMONG PEOPLE IN THE TERAI REGION OF NEPAL, AN AREA OF MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCY

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2012

RAJENDRA P. PARAJULI ,
MASAHIRO UMEZAKI  and
CHIHO WATANABE
RAJENDRA P. PARAJULI
Affiliation:
Department of Human Ecology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan Department of Social Medicine, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
MASAHIRO UMEZAKI
Affiliation:
Department of Human Ecology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan
CHIHO WATANABE
Affiliation:
Department of Human Ecology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan
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Summary

In the Terai region, despite its ecological richness, the people have long suffered from a deficiency of micronutrients such as vitamin A, iron and zinc. The aim of this study was to investigate dietary and nutritional intakes among people in the Terai region of Nepal. The results were compared by sex and ethnicity. Food consumption surveys (one-day weighed records) were conducted among 114 people (55 Mushar and 59 Tharu). Nutritional intakes were calculated using Nepali food composition and other tables. The diet in the Terai region was characterized by a large amount of rice consumed with a tiny amount of curry or dal as a side dish. Intakes of vitamin A, iron, riboflavin and selenium were less than 50% of the recommended daily allowance irrespective of ethnicity or sex (with the exception of iron intake among Tharu males). Intakes of thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, phosphorus and zinc were higher among the Tharu than the Mushar, while intakes of selenium and iodine were higher among the Mushar than the Tharu. The nutritional significance of these differences was slight. Protein intake (per kg body weight) was lower in females than in males, while the energy-adjusted micronutrient intakes did not differ by sex. Intakes of vitamin A, iron, riboflavin and selenium were deficient among the participants. Intervention projects such as the introduction of kitchen gardens or fish farming may be effective, but will increase the degree of inequality between the two ethnic groups.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 44 , Issue 4 , July 2012 , pp. 401 - 415
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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