Effects of Cucurbita Moschata squash (Butternut) seed paste in improving zinc and iron status in children attending Early Childhood Development centres in Limpopo province, South Africa.
Cucurbita moschata (Butternut squash) seeds are a rich source of nutrition containing nutrients including iron, zinc, copper, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus. The aim of this study was to determine if Cucurbita Moschata squash seed paste improves zinc and iron status, anthropometric status, and d...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2024-01-01
|
| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0300845&type=printable |
| _version_ | 1797194867744440320 |
|---|---|
| author | Selekane Ananias Motadi Xikombiso Gertrude Mbhenyane Mthokozisi Kwazi Zuma Jeanne H Freeland Graves |
| author_facet | Selekane Ananias Motadi Xikombiso Gertrude Mbhenyane Mthokozisi Kwazi Zuma Jeanne H Freeland Graves |
| author_sort | Selekane Ananias Motadi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cucurbita moschata (Butternut squash) seeds are a rich source of nutrition containing nutrients including iron, zinc, copper, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus. The aim of this study was to determine if Cucurbita Moschata squash seed paste improves zinc and iron status, anthropometric status, and dietary intake in preschool children. A pretest-posttest control group trial using cluster randomisation was conducted over 6 months. Four preschools were randomly assigned to receive 100 g of intervention or 100 g of a placebo as the control to enhance iron and zinc status. A total of 276 preschool children were recruited from eight government registered Early Childhood Development centres in Limpopo province, South Africa. The control group consumed Cucurbita moschata flesh twice-weekly, while the intervention group consumed Cucurbita moschata seed paste twice-weekly during a six-month period. Iron (serum iron, transferrin, transferrin saturation, ferritin) and zinc (serum zinc) status and anthropometric indices such as weight, height and mid upper arm circumference for children were evaluated at baseline and the endpoint. Iron and zinc-rich food consumption was measured using a 24-hour dietary recall and food record during the study, and dietary intake was estimated using a food frequency questionnaire which was conducted at the beginning and endpoint. The intervention group significantly improved in the mean serum iron 0.23 μg/dL (95% CI: 0.11;0.33); ferritin 0.21μg/dL (95% CI: 0.13;0.39), transferrin saturation 0.33% (0.23;0.74) and zinc 0.16 μmol/dl (95% CI: 0.13;0.25) at the end of the study. In addition, the intervention group exhibited greater mean weight for age of 0.13 z-score (95% CI: 0.28; 0.34) and weight for height of 0.04 z-score (95% CI: 0.12,0.05), as well as the consumption of iron (p < 0,001), zinc (p < 0,001), and vitamin C (p < 0.001). At the end of the trial, fiber (p < 0.001), riboflavin (p = 0.001), vitamin B6 (p < 0.001), and vitamin B12 (p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the control group. Thus, the inclusion of intervention in the diet of children in an impoverished area of South Africa improved the iron and zinc status of these children. This supplement could be a cost effective and sustainable approach to improve nutrient status in rural South Africa. Trial registration: Pan African Clinical Trial Registry (PACTR202308740458863). |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T06:03:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-71ab7bfff0fd4fd790e1f82b07f94906 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T06:03:06Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-71ab7bfff0fd4fd790e1f82b07f949062024-04-23T05:31:37ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032024-01-01194e030084510.1371/journal.pone.0300845Effects of Cucurbita Moschata squash (Butternut) seed paste in improving zinc and iron status in children attending Early Childhood Development centres in Limpopo province, South Africa.Selekane Ananias MotadiXikombiso Gertrude MbhenyaneMthokozisi Kwazi ZumaJeanne H Freeland GravesCucurbita moschata (Butternut squash) seeds are a rich source of nutrition containing nutrients including iron, zinc, copper, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus. The aim of this study was to determine if Cucurbita Moschata squash seed paste improves zinc and iron status, anthropometric status, and dietary intake in preschool children. A pretest-posttest control group trial using cluster randomisation was conducted over 6 months. Four preschools were randomly assigned to receive 100 g of intervention or 100 g of a placebo as the control to enhance iron and zinc status. A total of 276 preschool children were recruited from eight government registered Early Childhood Development centres in Limpopo province, South Africa. The control group consumed Cucurbita moschata flesh twice-weekly, while the intervention group consumed Cucurbita moschata seed paste twice-weekly during a six-month period. Iron (serum iron, transferrin, transferrin saturation, ferritin) and zinc (serum zinc) status and anthropometric indices such as weight, height and mid upper arm circumference for children were evaluated at baseline and the endpoint. Iron and zinc-rich food consumption was measured using a 24-hour dietary recall and food record during the study, and dietary intake was estimated using a food frequency questionnaire which was conducted at the beginning and endpoint. The intervention group significantly improved in the mean serum iron 0.23 μg/dL (95% CI: 0.11;0.33); ferritin 0.21μg/dL (95% CI: 0.13;0.39), transferrin saturation 0.33% (0.23;0.74) and zinc 0.16 μmol/dl (95% CI: 0.13;0.25) at the end of the study. In addition, the intervention group exhibited greater mean weight for age of 0.13 z-score (95% CI: 0.28; 0.34) and weight for height of 0.04 z-score (95% CI: 0.12,0.05), as well as the consumption of iron (p < 0,001), zinc (p < 0,001), and vitamin C (p < 0.001). At the end of the trial, fiber (p < 0.001), riboflavin (p = 0.001), vitamin B6 (p < 0.001), and vitamin B12 (p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the control group. Thus, the inclusion of intervention in the diet of children in an impoverished area of South Africa improved the iron and zinc status of these children. This supplement could be a cost effective and sustainable approach to improve nutrient status in rural South Africa. Trial registration: Pan African Clinical Trial Registry (PACTR202308740458863).https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0300845&type=printable |
| spellingShingle | Selekane Ananias Motadi Xikombiso Gertrude Mbhenyane Mthokozisi Kwazi Zuma Jeanne H Freeland Graves Effects of Cucurbita Moschata squash (Butternut) seed paste in improving zinc and iron status in children attending Early Childhood Development centres in Limpopo province, South Africa. PLoS ONE |
| title | Effects of Cucurbita Moschata squash (Butternut) seed paste in improving zinc and iron status in children attending Early Childhood Development centres in Limpopo province, South Africa. |
| title_full | Effects of Cucurbita Moschata squash (Butternut) seed paste in improving zinc and iron status in children attending Early Childhood Development centres in Limpopo province, South Africa. |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Cucurbita Moschata squash (Butternut) seed paste in improving zinc and iron status in children attending Early Childhood Development centres in Limpopo province, South Africa. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Cucurbita Moschata squash (Butternut) seed paste in improving zinc and iron status in children attending Early Childhood Development centres in Limpopo province, South Africa. |
| title_short | Effects of Cucurbita Moschata squash (Butternut) seed paste in improving zinc and iron status in children attending Early Childhood Development centres in Limpopo province, South Africa. |
| title_sort | effects of cucurbita moschata squash butternut seed paste in improving zinc and iron status in children attending early childhood development centres in limpopo province south africa |
| url | https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0300845&type=printable |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT selekaneananiasmotadi effectsofcucurbitamoschatasquashbutternutseedpasteinimprovingzincandironstatusinchildrenattendingearlychildhooddevelopmentcentresinlimpopoprovincesouthafrica AT xikombisogertrudembhenyane effectsofcucurbitamoschatasquashbutternutseedpasteinimprovingzincandironstatusinchildrenattendingearlychildhooddevelopmentcentresinlimpopoprovincesouthafrica AT mthokozisikwazizuma effectsofcucurbitamoschatasquashbutternutseedpasteinimprovingzincandironstatusinchildrenattendingearlychildhooddevelopmentcentresinlimpopoprovincesouthafrica AT jeannehfreelandgraves effectsofcucurbitamoschatasquashbutternutseedpasteinimprovingzincandironstatusinchildrenattendingearlychildhooddevelopmentcentresinlimpopoprovincesouthafrica |