Trace element intakes and dietary phytate/Zn and Ca x phytate/Zn millimolar ratios of periurban Guatemalan women during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Repeated 24-h recalls (9- 14/subject) were conducted on 52 periurban Guatemalan pregnant women aged 25 ± 5 y (1 ± SD). Intakes of energy, protein, calcium, zinc, copper, manganese, nonstarch polysaccharide (NSP), phytate, and millimolar ratios ofphytate to zinc and (calcium X phytate) to zinc were calculated from food-composition values on the basis ofchemical analysis and the literature. Mean (± SD) daily intakes were as follows: energy 8694 ± 1674 kJ, protein 63.0 ± 13.3 g, calcium 727 ± 163, zinc 11.3 ± 2.7, copper 1.3 ± 0.3, manganese 2.8 ± 0.6, phytate 2254 ± 773 mg/d, NSP 26.6 ± 6.9 g, phytate/zinc 18.8 ± 4.2, (calcium X phytate)/zinc 706 ± 2 1 mmol/MJ. Ninety-four percent had zinc intakes below the recommendations (1 5 mg) of WHO and the US recommended dietary allowances, assuming 20% absorption. Tortillas were a major source of zinc (46%), copper (20%), manganese (23%), calcium (39%), phytate (68%), and NSP (50%); 19% zinc from flesh foods. Thirty-eight percent had phytate-zinc ratios > 20; 94% had millimolar ratios of(calcium X phytate) to zinc per MJ � 22. The high prevalence of millimolar ratios of phytate to zinc and (calcium X phytate) to zinc per MJ above 20 and 22, respectively, may compromise zinc nutriture. Am J Clin