THE CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS INTAKES OF RURAL GAMBIAN WOMEN DURING PREGNANCY AND LACTATION

The Ca and P intakes of 148 pregnant and lactating women in a rural vi llage in The Gambia, West Africa, have been estimated by direct weighi ng of food on a total of 4188 d. The Ca and P contents of local foods were determined by analysis of raw ingredients, snack foods and prepar ed dishes. Information about the contribution of mineral-rich seasonin gs was obtained. Efforts were made to discover unusual sources of Ca t hat might not be perceived as food by subject or observer. The main co ntributors to daily Ca intake were shown to be leaves, fish, cereals, groundnuts and local salt. Cow's milk accounted for only 5 %. of Ca in take. Unusual sources of Ca were discovered, namely baobab (Adansonia digitata) fruit and selected earths, but these were consumed infrequen tly and their contributions to Ca intakes were small. Cereals and grou ndnuts were the main sources of P. Ca and P intakes (mg/d) were shown to average 404 (SD 110) and 887 (SD 219) respectively. Seasonal change s in the availability of leaves, cereals and groundnuts resulted in va riations in Ca and P intakes. The rainy season was associated with inc reased Ca intakes (by 16 %) but decreased P consumption (by 15 %). No difference was observed in Ca intake between pregnant and lactating wo men but P intake in lactation was 11 % higher than that in pregnancy d uring the post-harvest season. The implications of these low Ca intake s require investigation.