A household-level sweet potato-based infant food to complement vitamin A supplementation initiatives

Abstract

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) prevalence in Sub-Saharan Africa is high in spite of vitamin A supplementation programmes among children in most countries. Plant-based complementary foods remain the key source of nutrients in addition to breast milk for infants in lower income countries. Cereal-legume blends are superior in protein and energy densities compared with maize, millet or sorghum-only porridge. However, unfortified cereal-legume and cereal-only porridges are low in vitamin A. A household-level sweet potato-based infant food, rich in vitamin A, has been developed to complement vitamin A supplementation initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa. A composite flour containing sweet potato, soybean, soybean oil and fishmeal was processed as complementary food by oven toasting (denoted oven-toasted ComFa). The oven-toasted ComFa and enriched Weanimix (processed from dehulled maize, dehulled soybean, groundnut and fishmeal) were assessed for suitability as complementary food based on the nutrient composition using specifications in the Codex Standard (CS) as a reference. The sweet potato-based formulation and enriched Weanimix met the energy, protein, fructose and fat specifications but barely met the amino acid score as indicated in the CS. However, only the oven-toasted ComFa met the calcium and almost half the vitamin A levels as specified in the CS. Oven-toasted ComFa was slightly lower in energy, protein and fat by a difference not greater than 4.0% but was higher by more than 100% in fructose and vitamin A levels. Therefore, the sweet potato-based complementary food is likely to support vitamin A supplementation initiatives in low-income countries better than the cereal-based formulation.

Figure 1

Energy density of household‐level processed complementary foods. Line () represents the minimum level for complementary foods for infants in the Codex Standard. Bar values (means ± standard deviation, n = 3).

Figure 2

Protein density of household‐level processed complementary foods. Line () represents the minimum and maximum levels for complementary foods for infants in the Codex Standard. Bar values (means ± standard deviation, n = 3).

Figure 3

Amino acid score of household‐level processed complementary foods. Line () represents the minimum level for complementary foods for infants in the Codex Standard. Bar values (means ± standard deviation, n = 2).

Figure 4

Fructose density of household‐level processed complementary foods. Line () represents the maximum level if fructose is added as an ingredient to complementary foods for infants in the Codex Standard. Bar values (means ± standard deviation, n = 3).

Figure 5

Carbohydrate (glucose + fructose contents) density of household‐level processed complementary foods. Bar values (means ± standard deviation, n = 3).

Figure 6

Fat density of household‐level processed complementary foods. Line () represents the maximum level for complementary foods for infants in the Codex Standard. Bar values (means ± standard deviation, n = 3).

Figure 7

Calcium density of household‐level processed complementary foods. Line () represents the minimum level for complementary foods for infants in the Codex Standard. Bar values (means ± standard deviation, n = 3).

Figure 8

Vitamin A density of household‐level processed complementary foods. Line () represents the minimum level for complementary foods for infants in the Codex Standard. Bar values (means ± standard deviation, n = 2). RE, retinol equivalents.