Impact of microenvironment of food security and nutritional adaptation in the Tari basin

摘要

Nutritional status, nutrient intake (energy, protein, and fat) and energy expenditure were examined in two communities from environmentally contrasting locations--a flat wetland area and a dry hilly area--in the Taft basin of the PNG highlands. Villagers dwelling in the better agricultural environment (flat wetland) had significantly higher energy and protein intakes than villagers in the poorer environment (dry hilly). Energy intakes were 15.0 and 9.7 megajoules (MJ) per day for males and 12.2 and 8.8 MJ per day for females, in the better and poorer environments respectively. Corresponding figures for protein intake were 55 and 43 grams per day for males, and 62 and 34 grams per day for females. Protein intake of villagers in the better environment exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) safety level, whereas the intake of villagers in the poorer environment was below the WHO level. Daily energy intake and expenditure were well balanced in villagers in the better environment, whereas a considerable negative energy balance was observed in both males (-2.2 MJ per day) and females (-1.1 MJ per day) in the poorer environment. Consequently, villagers living in the poorer agricultural environment, especially females, had lower values for body mass index and per cent body fat than villagers in the better environment. In addition, the results indicated that both the energy intake and the energy expenditure of villagers in the poorer environment were lower than those of villagers in the better environment, showing adaptation to low food availability in the poor agricultural environment.