Urbanisation of Africans in the North West Province is associated with better micronutrient status: the Transition of Health during Urbanisation Study in South Africa.

摘要

The aim of this study was to assess the micronutrient status of a population in transition in the North West Province of South Africa. The subjects were classified into one of five levels according to their level of urbanisation. The authors found that over half of the subjects had intakes of vitamin A, folate, ascorbic acid, zinc, iron, and calcium that were less than two-thirds of the recommended daily allowance. Daily intakes of vitamin A, vitamin C, the B group vitamins, and iron and zinc were higher among the urban subjects than the rural subjects. The daily intake of iodine was considerably lower among the rural subjects in comparison to the urban subjects. This was in part due to the greater use of iodised salt in the urban subjects. The authors conclude that these results emphasise the importance of the use of fortified staple foods in South Africa.