Nutritional status of 3-6 year-old African children in the Cape Peninsula.

During the first quarter of 1990 Xhosa-speaking nurses interviewed mothers and took anthropometric measurements of 163 children 3-6 years old living in squatter and formal housing areas of Cape Town South Africa to determine the nutritional status of the children. 39% of the children received less than 67% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of calories (i.e. deficiency) and 3% received more than 120% of the RDA. Most children were deficient in calcium (80%) iron (77%) vitamin A (64%) riboflavin (52%) niacin (53%) vitamin B6 (58%) and vitamin C (76%). Most children received more than 120% of the RDA for folic acid (68%) and for vitamin B12 (63%). Milk consumption was low (median intake 0.5 portion vs. 2-3 portions as recommended by the department of national health and population development guidelines). The diet was also deficient in vegetables and fruit intake (1.32 vs. =or> 4 portions) and fat intake (2.5 vs. =or> 4 portions). Children did receive adequate portions of meat and foods from the cereal group however. Macronutrient energy distribution fell within prudent dietary guidelines: 28.1% of energy from total fat 63.7% from carbohydrates and 13.2% from protein. 44.8% of children had only 2 meals with more than 600 kJ. 15 children (9.2%) had only 1 meal. 27.6% were stunted. 7.7% were underweight. 7.9% were wasted. 20.1% were obese. The undernourished children and the obese children consumed a diet low in micronutrients. These anthropometric findings indicate a population in transition--acutely and chronically undernourished children coexisting with obesity. The overall findings suggest a need to develop a nutrition and health policy to address nutrient deficit and excess.