New research pinpoints zinc biofortified food as key nutrition security measure in Tanzania

04 Mar 2024 --- Researchers from the University of Arkansas, US, and Tanzania’s Ministry of Agriculture identified new recommendations to reduce nutrient deficiency in the East African country using a novel research methodology. The researchers recommend that Tanzania’s policymakers and public health officials focus on zinc biofortification of staple foods such as rice.

“Zinc deficiency is a major health problem worldwide, particularly in developing countries, and a major health consequence is stunted growth for children,” says Professor Brandon McFadden, Tyson Endowed chair, food policy economics, Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Arkansas.

Reducing micronutrient malnutrition, known as “hidden hunger,” in low-income countries is a global challenge, particularly among women, children and high-poverty households. Countries like Tanzania have developed diverse strategies to combat malnutrition, including the biofortification of staple foods. However, broad awareness and knowledge of micronutrient deficiencies and beneficial foods are needed for these strategies to be effective.

“It’s difficult for vitamin supplementation to be a long-lasting behavioral change,” he said. “If you can increase the nutrient levels in staple foods, then perhaps it would be more effective, particularly in rural areas,” says McFadden.

Micronutrient knowledge gaps
The study, published in Global Food Security, identifies knowledge gaps in the understanding of micronutrient deficiencies. According to the research article, approximately 58% of children between 6–59 months are anemic in Tanzania.

Biofortified iron beans, vitamin A maize and vitamin A orange sweet potato are available in Tanzania, but mass consumption is needed to achieve the health benefits. Social and behavioral change needs to change to increase the efficacy of these biofortified crops that have the potential to solve micronutrient deficiencies.

Around 34% are vitamin A deficient, and approximately 70% of hospitalized children in this age group are zinc deficient. Similar surveys of women between the ages of 15 and 49 in Tanzania also show high rates of anemia and vitamin A deficiency.

“Findings from the study are very important to Tanzania. Understanding and managing to close the knowledge gap is very important in order to build a strong and stable workforce,” says Pius Kilasy, agricultural research officer, Ministry of Agriculture, Tanzania and co-author of the study.

“Worldwide hunger has become so common that research like this can help inform decision-makers to look for various alternatives on solving community challenges that are arising due to lack of sufficient knowledge.”

Women at higher risk
The research was mainly conducted through survey experiments with Tanzanian citizens between 18–49 to uncover knowledge gaps about iron, vitamin A and zinc. More women, 806 out of 1,029 respondents, were interviewed because the demographic is at a higher risk of micronutrient deficiency, according to WHO statistics. 

“We were interested in the knowledge of the different micronutrient deficiencies. And then also knowledge about biofortified foods that can help reduce those deficiencies,” McFadden said.Widespread consumption of biofortified iron beans, vitamin A maize, and vitamin A orange sweet potato is needed in Tanzania.

Once the baseline knowledge of the respondents were established, they received different educational information about micronutrient deficiencies. The effects of the interventions were then measured using a follow-up survey.

“We used a randomized group design to identify these knowledge gaps and then also used a nutrient randomized design with information so we could have a lot of confidence in our findings,” says McFadden.

 The methodology included an “internal reliability check.” While the study focused on iron, vitamin A and zinc, questions about iodine deficiency in the baseline and follow-up surveys were included.

Low zinc awareness 
In order to compare the impact of the educational materials for iron, vitamin A and zinc against the impact of not providing information about iodine, the researchers provided resources on the former three and not the latter.

The baseline survey showed that half of the respondents were aware of zinc deficiency, compared to approximately 75% who were aware of vitamin A and iron deficiency.

“There’s been a lot of programs targeted at vitamin A and iron. There was really a low awareness for zinc,” McFadden explains. “Tanzania should implement targeted communication strategies that provide information about the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies and risk-reducing food options branded with targeted micronutrients to reduce knowledge gaps most effectively.”

“It’s identifying those places, particularly that women in childbearing years, are likely to receive information. For example, any kind of women’s clinic,” he says.

The study also noted that women were more aware than men of the potential negative health outcomes from micronutrient deficiency. Respondents assigned to groups that received educational information were more likely to identify negative health outcomes for iron, vitamin A and zinc. High-poverty households were also found to have lower overall awareness of the negative health outcomes of micronutrient malnutrition. These households identified fewer negative health outcomes of micronutrient deficiencies and fewer risk-reducing foods.

The researchers found that providing a combination of educational information, along with branded crop information, yielded the greatest improvement in reducing knowledge gaps about micronutrient deficiency.

Meanwhile, strides in ultra-high temperature treatment, microparticulation and shelf life stability technologies help companies cost-effectively support malnutrition alleviation.

By Inga de Jong