Potential impact of zinc‐biofortified rice on zinc intakes of young Bangladeshi children

Abstract

BackgroundYoung children in Bangladesh are at risk of zinc deficiency due to a rice‐based diet with few animal‐source foods. Breeding rice for higher zinc content would offer a sustainable approach to increase zinc intakes.ObjectivesTo quantify usual rice and zinc intakes in young children and estimate the potential impact of zinc‐biofortified rice on zinc intakes.MethodsWe measured dietary intake in a representative sample of 480 children ages 24–48 mo in rural communities from two districts, Trishal (T) and Pirgaccha (P). Food intakes were estimated by weighed records in homes on 2 non‐consecutive days. Serum zinc concentrations were determined in a sub‐sample of children.ResultsMedian (25th, 75th pct) rice intakes of children were 144 (110, 179) g/d in T and 123 (88, 164) g/d in P; and median zinc intakes were 2.4 (2.0, 2.9) mg/d in T and 2.5 (2.1, 3.0) mg/d in P. 27% and 19% of children had inadequate zinc intakes (<2 mg/d) in T and P, respectively. 36% and 11% of children in T and P, respectively, had low serum zinc concentrations (<65 μg/dL) after adjusting for infection status. Rice was the highest source of zinc intakes, providing 59% and 41% of dietary zinc in T and P, respectively. If the rice zinc content were increased by 50% or 100%, the probability of inadequate zinc intakes would decrease to 8% or 3–4%, respectively.ConclusionsYoung children in rural Bangladesh have inadequate intakes of zinc, and zinc‐biofortification of rice has potential to markedly improve the zinc adequacy of the children's diets.Funding: HarvestPlus, Washington, DC