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dc.contributor.authorFaber, M.
dc.contributor.authorPhungula, M.A.S.
dc.contributor.authorVenter, S.L.
dc.contributor.authorDhansay, M.A.
dc.contributor.authorBenadé, A.J.S.
dc.date.accessioned2020-06-26T13:00:53Z
dc.date.available2020-06-26T13:00:53Z
dc.date.issued2002-11
dc.identifier.citationHome gardens focusing on the production of yellow and dark-green leafy vegetables increase the serum retinol concentrations of 2–5-y-old children in South Africa. American Journal of Clinical Nutritionen_US
dc.identifier.issn00029165
dc.identifier.urihttps://infospace.mrc.ac.za/handle/11288/595247
dc.description.abstractBackground: Production of yellow and dark-green leafy vegetables at the household level may provide economically deprived households with direct access to provitamin A-rich foods. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine whether the dietary intake of yellow and dark-green leafy vegetables and the serum retinol concentrations of children improve with a home-gardening program. Design: A home-gardening program was integrated with a community-based growth-monitoring system in a rural village. Cross-sectional data were collected at baseline and 20 mo after implementation of the program. The dietary intake, serum retinol concentrations, and growth of 2-5-y-old children and maternal knowledge regarding vitamin A were determined. A neighboring village served as a control village. Results: In the experimental village, 126 home gardens were established, representing approximately one-third of the households. Serum retinol concentrations in the experimental village increased significantly (P = 0.0078), whereas those in the control village decreased significantly (P = 0.0148). At follow-up, children from the experimental village consumed yellow and dark-green leafy vegetables more often and had significantly higher (P = 0.005) serum retinol concentrations (0.81 +/- 0.22 micro mol/L; n = 110) than did children from the control village (0.73 +/- 0.19 micro mol/L; n = 111). Maternal knowledge regarding vitamin A improved significantly in the experimental village (P = 0.001). Conclusion: A home-gardening program that was integrated with a primary health care activity, linked to nutrition education, and focused on the production of yellow and dark-green leafy vegetables significantly improved the vitamin A status of 2-5-y-old children in a rural village in South Africa.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipWe thank Martelle Marais, Eldrich Harmse, and DeWet Marais for their excellent technical support; David Modise from the Agricultural Research Council for training in vegetable production; Lize van Stuijvenberg for critically reviewing the manuscript; our team of nutrition monitors for their invaluable support and dedication to the study; the Ndunakazi community; and the children and caregivers who participated in the study.en_US
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherAmerican Society for Clinical Nutritionen_US
dc.relation.url10.1093/ajcn/76.5.1048en_US
dc.rightsAttribution 3.0 United States*
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/*
dc.titleHome gardens focusing on the production of yellow and dark-green leafy vegetables increase the serum retinol concentrations of 2–5-y-old children in South Africa.en_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
dc.contributor.departmentNutritional Intervention Research Unit of the Medical Research Council, Parow, South Africa. mieke.faber@mrc.ac.zaen_US
dc.identifier.journalAmerican Journal of clinical Nutritionen_US
dc.research.unitClosed Unitsen_US
dc.date.epub2002


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Attribution 3.0 United States
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as Attribution 3.0 United States