The Role of Fish for Nutrition and Health: Bangladesh as a case study

Shakuntala Haraksingh ThilstedSenior Nutrition Scientist, WorldFish

Fish and Bangladesh

- Rich water and fisheries resources: inland, coastal and marine

- Important for food, livelihood and income, especially of the rural poor

- Low intakes of energy, vitamins and minerals, fat and essential fatty acids, animal protein

- Population groups relying on fish as a common food suffer disproportionately from malnutrition

- Fish in food-based approaches:Applicable to many population groups in other low-income African and Asian countries

Consumption of Nutrient-rich Foods in Bangladesh

Frequency of consumption of nutrient-rich foods in the preceding 14 days (% of households) (BBS Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2010)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Fish Leafy vegetable Fruit Egg Milk Meat

% o

f h

ou

seh

old

s

7-14 days consumption

0-6 days consumption

Small Fish Species Improve Dietary Diversity

• Common food eaten with rice

• Adds flavour and taste to the meal

• Improves dietary diversity

• Cooked with vegetables, oil and spices, further improves dietary diversity, adding nutrients and health-promoting substances

• Processed (dried), stored - prolonging duration of consumption, reach

• Irreplaceable animal-source food• Rich source of multiple nutrients • Animal protein• Essential fats• Essential micronutrients: minerals and

vitamins• Enhances mineral bioavailability from foods

in the meal

Decrease in Capture FisheriesDramatic Success in Aquaculture

• Capture Fisheries:

- total no. of all species

consumed: 100 per year- small fish species: 85 % of

total amount consumed- frequent harvesting of small amounts of fish for consumption

• Aquaculture:

- large fish species - very few species (carps, tilapia, pangasius

- harvesting at one time for sale

Nutrient Content of Small and Large Fish Species

Nutrient content of small indigenous and cultured fish species in Bangladesh

VITAMIN A CALCIUM IRON ZINC

FISH SPECIES(RAE/100 g raw,

edible parts)

(mg/100 g raw,

edible parts)

(mg/100 g raw,

edible parts)

(mg/100 g raw,

edible parts)

Small indigenous fish species

Chanda (Parambassis baculis) - 1,153 2.1 2.6

Darkina (Esomus danricus) 880 775 12.0 4.0

Mola (Amblypharyngodon mola) 2,680 776 5.7 3.2

Puti (Puntius sophore) 60 1,042 3.3 3.8

Cultured fish species

Pangasius (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) - 8.6 0.7 0.6

Silver carp (Hypophthamichthys molitrix) < 30 36 4.4 1.4

Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) < 30 95 1.1 1.2

Perceptions of Health Benefits of Specific Small Fish Species (by Bangladeshi Women): good for/protect eyes; full of vitamins; good for pregnancy and lactation; gives strength; builds

up blood

Innovative Production Technologies for Small Fish

• Sustainable management of wetlands with enhanced stocking of nutrient-rich small fish

• Small-scale homestead pond polycultureof carps and nutrient-rich small fish (mola)- small fish for household intake- carps for household income

• Integration of:- Production of nutrient-rich vegetables in homestead and on pond dykes

- Behaviour change communication on essential nutrition and hygiene actions

- Gender equity

Increased Fish Production Alone is Insufficient

• Behaviour Change Communication: for increased fish consumption, especially at the start of complementary feeding

• Improvement in Post-harvest Processes: processing (drying), storage, marketing, food safety, cooking methods

• Reduction of Spoilage and Wastage

• Increased Use of Small Marine Fish for Human Consumption present use: fish meal and fish oil

Nutrient composition of fish-based complementary food

(per 100 g dry product)

15% dried darkina fish, 30% orange sweet potato flour, 10% soybean oil, 45% rice flour

Energy Protein Fat Iron Zinc Calcium Vit A

420 kcal 12 g 13 g 15 mg 4.5 mg 895 mg 836 RAE

Fish and Fish Products in 1,000 Days and Beyond

• Fish chutney for women and adolescent girls: dried small fish, onion, garlic, chili and oil – community-based income generation for women

• Business Analysis and Plan: e.g. source and price of ingredients; manufacturing, shelf life, marketing, demand

Moving Forward

• Data Needs – fish species nutrient composition, intra-household consumption, enhancing factor of fish on bioavailability

• Scaling Out of Production Systems with small fish species • Focus on Food Systems and Diet – not single food / nutrient• Partnership and Collaboration