Non-farmed fish contribute to greater micronutrient intakes than farmed fish: results from an intra-household survey in rural Bangladesh.
OBJECTIVE
Fish is the most important animal-source food (ASF) in Bangladesh, produced from capture fisheries (non-farmed) and aquaculture (farmed) sub-sectors. Large differences in micronutrient content of fish species from these sub-sectors exist. The importance of fish in diets of vulnerable groups compared with other ASF; contribution from non-farmed and farmed species to nutrient intakes; and differences in fish consumption among age, gender, wealth groups and geographic regions were analysed, using quantitative intra-household fish consumption data, focusing on the first 1000 d of life.


DESIGN
Two-stage stratified sample.


SETTING
Nationally representative of rural Bangladesh.


SUBJECTS
Households (n 5503) and individuals (n 24 198).


RESULTS
Fish consumption in poor households was almost half that in wealthiest households; and lower in females than males in all groups, except the wealthiest, and for those aged ≥15 years (P<0·01). In infants of complementary feeding age, 56 % did not consume ASF on the survey day, despite 78 % of mothers knowing this was recommended. Non-farmed fish made a larger contribution to Fe, Zn, Ca, vitamin A and vitamin B12 intakes than farmed fish (P<0·0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Policies and programmes aimed to increase fish consumption as a means to improve nutrition in rural Bangladesh should focus on women and young children, and on the poorest households. Aquaculture plays an important role in increasing availability and affordability of fish; however, non-farmed fish species are better placed to contribute to greater micronutrient intakes. This presents an opportunity for aquaculture to contribute to improved nutrition, utilising diverse production technologies and fish species, including small fish.
['Bogard|Jessica R|JR|', 'Marks|Geoffrey C|GC|', 'Mamun|Abdullah|A|', 'Thilsted|Shakuntala H|SH|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D000818:Animals D017756:Aquaculture D001459:Bangladesh D002648:Child D002675:Child, Preschool D005260:Female D005399:Fishes D006801:Humans D007223:Infant D008297:Male D018977:Micronutrients D008875:Middle Aged D009749:Nutrition Surveys D009752:Nutritional Status D012424:Rural Population D055815:Young Adult
Fish Micronutrients Animal-source foods Capture fisheries Aquaculture First 1000 d Intra-household food consumption