Vitamin A nutrition and gardens : bibliography

It builds on the discussion of gardens and nutrition in Brownrigg and Cleveland and Soleri. Most of the entries were published after the Brownrigg review, but some published before 1985 are included because of their particular significance and/or the quality of their research. Garden production of preformed vitamin A in animal products is not addressed in this bibliography. This bibliography is divided into four sections representing key issues concerning the effectiveness of gardens as nutrition intervention. The documents in Section 1, Gardens and Development, are concerned with the important role household gardens can play in development efforts with the goal of nutritional improvement. Part 1A reviews articles that deal with the more theoretical aspects of household gardens; their relation to nutritional status; the importance of their integration into diverse agroecological environments at the local level; and their relatively neglected potential in development. Part 1B focuses on documents that address problems of design, implementation, and evaluation of garden projects. In both subsections, articles specifically addressing the improvement of vitamin A nutritional status through household gardening are included. Section 2, Garden Foods and Vitamin A, discusses indigenous sources of provitamin A, the effect of processing on the vitamin A value of foods, and the relationship between food intake and nutritional status. The indigenous wild and cultivated sources of provitamin A are the subject of Part 2A; 2B includes research on the effect of food processing, especially drying, on provitamin A content; the articles in section 2C provide evidence that provitamin A in garden foods is absorbed and converted to retinol, while noting that factors such as protein energy malnutrition and consumption patterns have a significant impact on the nutritional value of available provitamin A sources. Nutrient production, especially of provitamin A, is the subject of Section 3, Garden Nutrient Yields. Part 3A contains literature on model or maximizing gardens that demonstrates their capacity for nutrient production, but raises questions about their appropriateness and long-term sustainability under developing world conditions. Local or indigenous gardens are created and maintained by gardeners and are not the direct result of a project. Some of the all too rare studies of nutrient production in these gardens are included in 3B. Section 4, Impact of Gardens, includes literature concerned with the steps from the garden to the diets and nutritional status of individual household members as well as communities. If garden produce is consumed directly by the household, the subject of part 4A, distribution within the household and actual consumption will effect the impact on nutritional status of household members. The economic contributions of gardens are the topic of part 4B. If garden produce is sold, then marketing and control and use of the income must be taken into account. Income can affect nutritional status directly if used for food purchases but also indirectly, for example through social status. Key words are provided with each listing to assist researchers in quickly identifying articles relevant to their interests. When available and adequate, the author"s abstract or an excerpt from the author"s summary or text is used. This is followed, when appropriate, by a brief comment relating the entry to the issues addressed in this bibliography. The text of the bibliography is followed by two indices, which cross-reference the listings by author and by country. (Author abstract, modified)