American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 53, 803-811, Copyright © 1991 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc

ORIGINAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Effects of dietary supplementation on work performance in Gambian laborers

E Diaz, GR Goldberg, M Taylor, JM Savage, D Sellen, WA Coward and AM Prentice
MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit, Cambridge, UK.

The effect of food supplementation on productivity of Gambian subsistence farmers was studied during a natural food shortage induced by the annual hungry season. Sixteen men in two groups matched for weight, height, hemoglobin, and physical-work capacity followed a crossover protocol with 6-wk supplementation and control periods. Productivity was assessed over the final 3 wk of each period by quantifying piece-rate-paid road building. Supplementation comprised an ad libitum supply of highly palatable energy-dense food provided three times daily. Outcome variables were total loads transported, loads per working hour, time per load, total energy expenditure assessed by doubly labeled water and heart-rate monitoring, postwork activity, and anthropometry. Body weight decreased during control periods, indicating a real energy deficit, and increased during supplementation in both groups. Supplementation had no significant impact on productivity variables. Energy-deficient men can maintain maximal productivity over short periods if sufficiently motivated but at the expense of body weight.

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