Effect of different maize meal diets on growth and vitamin A: case-study on chickens.

South Africa embarked on mandatory vitamin and mineral fortification of wheat flour and maize meal in 2003 as part of a multi-faceted approach to alleviate malnutrition. However, it was reported, in 2008, that vitamin A deficiency increased despite the mandatory fortification programme. This motivates an investigation into the absorption of vitamin A as fortificant in the maize meal. Relative absorption, in chickens as the biological model, was determined by evaluating growth and vitamin A status. The weight, cumulative feed intake and liver retinol stores of chickens on different diets were measured over a 6week period. The fortified white maize meal diet was able to maintain the vitamin A status of the chickens. Poor absorption of the fortificant vitamin A is therefore not a constraint in combating vitamin A deficiency. It is in therefore also important to focus on the level of fortification delivered when consumed as a traditional prepared dish. In the traditional diet, maize porridge is often consumed with only a relish. The total fat content of the traditional meal is very low, lacking absorption enhancers.