Dietary Protein Inadequacy among Women of Reproductive Age from Five Low‐Income Countries

Women in low‐income countries have low micronutrient intake adequacy, but protein adequacy has not been assessed rigorously. A 2015 report from SPRING indicated that protein intake was generally adequate in most cohorts based on the mean protein intakes being above a threshold of % energy rather than high prevalence of usual intakes above estimated average requirements (EAR) per kg body weight. Moreover, protein quality was not considered. We assessed dietary protein intake adequacy of women using existing quantitative dietary data from Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Uganda, and Zambia. Food intakes were assessed by 24‐h recall, except in Bangladesh where 12‐h direct observation and weighing and 12‐h recall were used. Protein intakes were adjusted for fecal digestibility factors and amino acid…