Food consumption of children with and without xerophthalmia in rural Tanzania.

Food intake of 26 children (4-9 years old) of whom nine had xerophthalmic eye lesions (Bitot's spots), was recorded over a period of four days. The principal staple foods were maize and sweet potatoes, while sorghum and cassava were also used as staple foods. The intake of energy was rather low partly due to the bulkiness of the diet. Protein intake was above the recommended intake but mainly derived from vegetable sources. The intake of retinol, beta-carotene, folic acid and iron was low in all children especially those with xerophthalmia. Dried green leafy vegetables contributed about 20% of the total beta-carotene intake during the period that the survey was carried out.