What is yellow maize good for?

What is yellow maize good for and why should we be feeding it to pregnant women and our children? It has more protein, is cheaper that its white cousin and is rich in the precursor to vitamin A.

One cob of yellow or white maize will contain roughly 200 grams of whole grain; obviously the size varies considerably. Astonishingly just 28g per day will decrease the risk of heart disease by 22 percent^[1].

But what is specific about yellow maize?

Beta-carotene

Beta-carotene is a compound consisting of two vitamin A molecules joined together; each is called "retinol." It gives yellow corn its colour. So important was this discovery that a genius called Paul Karrer was awarded the Nobel Prize; less than 100 years ago.

In South Africa alone over 40 children die every single day from a vitamin A deficiency; just two cups of yellow wholegrain maizemeal porridge would supply a small child with the required daily allowance.

What is yellow maize good for? It would save a lot of lives.

Carotenes in different maize products

Researchers have found that total carotenoids in yellow maize, whole and refined cornmeal varied very little^[3].

However white cornmeal whether refined or not, has almost zero carotenes.

True wholegrain yellow maize made into a mealiebread has the largest amounts of xanthophylls but wet cooking as in a porridge more than doubled the carotene yield.

• Homemade cornbread
  

Researchers pointed out the importance of cooking the meal with added fat; they used undefined vegetable shortening. We prefer butter which is also a source of beta-carotene.

Lutein and zeaxanthin were the predominant carotenes found in yellow maizemeal; a deficiency of either is the chief cause of adult-onset macular degeneration.

Prevention of hearing loss

Although the study has been criticized for lack of vigour, researchers report that children having had several attacks of inner ear infections were about 50% less likely to have high frequency hearing loss if they had regularly consumed foods high in carotenes^[2].

They postulated that dietary antioxidants mitigate against damage to the cochlear cells which causes sensorineural hearing loss.

It is generally accepted that these cells can be damaged by noise trauma, chemotherapy and certain antibiotics; and measles.

Consumer resistance to yellow maize

We have become so accustomed to "the fact" that white maize is for humans and the yellow varieties are only for animal feed; there is substantial consumer resistance.

Yet interesting research done in Malawi found that once caregivers had been exposed to yellow maize that the children they served actually preferred it to the white porridge; it has more flavour.

Yellow maizemeal also contains substantially more protein than its white counterpart.

There is also increasing consumer resistance to gluten-rich grains; maize in general is a good alternative.

• Wheat gluten intolerance and whole grains
  

Maternal health

According to the International Vitamin A Consultative Group a deficiency is a major public health problem in developing countries^[6].

Supplements of either vitamin A or beta-carotene starting before conception, continuing through the confinement and during lactation would reduce pregnancy related mortality by nearly 50%. And yet we are still asking what is yellow maize good for.

Viral infections

Viral infections particularly from measles in vitamin A deficient children causes serious and more frequent complications; and a much higher death rate.

Vitamin A or beta-carotene supplementation reduces mortality of hospitalised cases by a mind-boggling 50%.

Those deficient are also far more prone to HIV and malarial infections.

Stunting of children

The mental and physical stunting of children is alarming in developing countries. In South Africa, for example over a quarter of all 5-year olds are permanently handicapped; in rural villages and townships it is estimated to be approaching 50%.

It is thus unsurprising that so many children are unable to read with understanding.

One third of these infants are permanently damaged at birth due to the poor vitamin A status of pregnant women.

In Uganda a study of nearly 5,000 children aged less than five-years it was found that 8.9% where vitamin A deficient; 27 percent were stunted.

After adjusting for the many other causes of stunting it was estimated that those who were vitamin A deficient had 43% higher odds ratio of having retarded growth.

Only 18% of South African children in grade 4 can read with understanding according to the international PIRLS study; one of the worst in the world. And it's getting worse not better. Whilst teachers are blamed with this tragedy it is our thesis that permanently stunted brains will never cope with the modern demanding school program, have fulfilling lives as adults or contribute in a meaningful way to the economy.

A strong indicator of their future progress is that by the end of grade 1, 50% of children in no-fee paying schools do not know all the letters of the alphabet.

Leukaemia

Vitamin A is used as an adjunct in the treatment of the most malignant form of leukaemia; it increased the complete remission rate to 92%^[5].

It's not unlikely that beta-carotene would play a role in the prevention of the disease.

Two cups of yellow maizemeal porridge

It is estimated that just two cups of yellow maizemeal porridge daily would provide sufficient beta-carotene to supply small children with all their needs for vitamin A.

Added fat is important for the absorption of the nutrient into chylomicrons and eventual storage in the liver. Vitamin A is richly found in the retina of the eyes where it is attached to a protein forming cells in the rods and cones. A deficiency causes night blindness.

Milling of yellow maize

This relatively inexpensive mill and grind 1.5 tons of yellow maize per week; fine true wholemeal. There is no separation of the three parts of the grain.

The origin of maize

Maize was certainly eaten by the people in Central America long before the arrival of Columbus in 1492 AD. It is generally believed that it then spread to other parts of the world.

However there are numerous Arabic texts referring to "Shami maize," hundreds of years before Columbus; the yellow meal used mainly today for animal feed. However back then it found in many different recipes for human consumption.

What is yellow maize good for?

What is yellow maize good for is a question we should all be asking. The beta-carotene helps prevent many very serious diseases including the permanent stunting of children's brains and bodies. Many will never learn to read with comprehension.

• Stunting of children
  

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