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Home gardens focusing on the production of yellow and dark-green leafy vegetables increase the serum retinol concentrations of 2–5-y-old children in South Africa^1,2,3

¹ From the Nutritional Intervention Research Unit of the Medical Research Council, Parow, South Africa (MF, MAD, and AJSB); the Ndunakazi Primary School, Department of Education of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (MASP); and the Vegetable and Ornamental Institute of the Agricultural Research Council, Roodeplaat, South Africa (SLV).

Background: Production of yellow and dark-green leafy vegetables at the household level may provide economically deprived households with direct access to provitamin A–rich foods.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine whether the dietary intake of yellow and dark-green leafy vegetables and the serum retinol concentrations of children improve with a home-gardening program.

Design: A home-gardening program was integrated with a community-based growth-monitoring system in a rural village. Cross-sectional data were collected at baseline and 20 mo after implementation of the program. The dietary intake, serum retinol concentrations, and growth of 2–5-y-old children and maternal knowledge regarding vitamin A were determined. A neighboring village served as a control village.

Results: In the experimental village, 126 home gardens were established, representing approximately one-third of the households. Serum retinol concentrations in the experimental village increased significantly (P = 0.0078), whereas those in the control village decreased significantly (P = 0.0148). At follow-up, children from the experimental village consumed yellow and dark-green leafy vegetables more often and had significantly higher (P = 0.005) serum retinol concentrations (0.81 ± 0.22 µmol/L; n = 110) than did children from the control village (0.73 ± 0.19 µmol/L; n = 111). Maternal knowledge regarding vitamin A improved significantly in the experimental village (P = 0.001).

Conclusion: A home-gardening program that was integrated with a primary health care activity, linked to nutrition education, and focused on the production of yellow and dark-green leafy vegetables significantly improved the vitamin A status of 2–5-y-old children in a rural village in South Africa.

Key Words: Home gardens • yellow and dark-green vegetables • vitamin A • rural South Africa • preschool children • serum retinol • dietary intake

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