Abstract
This study assessed the iron, zinc and copper status of primary school-attending children in Lagos. A sample of 200 primary School-attending children was randomly selected using a stratified 2 – stage sampling technique. Data was collected in the 2 major seasons in Nigeria; Dry and Rainy seasons using dietary intake (24 hr dietary recall protocol) venipuncture blood samples, and a self-administered questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Among ages 5 - 8 years, the main dietary intake for iron was 10.66 ± 12.44 mg/d (106% of DRI), for zinc, 7.30 ± 7.39 mg/d (92% of DRI) and for copper, 1.55 ± 1.31 mg/d (390% of DRI). For ages 9 - 13 yrs, the mean intake of micronutrients showed that iron was 11.03 ± 12.72 mg/d (138% of DRI), 3inc was 8.44 ± 7.7 mg/d (105% of DRI) and copper was 3.75 ± 15.17 mg/d (536% of DRI). Biochemical results indicated that 19.8% of the subjects had inadequate serum iron, 21% and 32.1% were zinc and copper deficient respectively prevalence of anemia was 38.1% while iron deficiency anemia was 13.06% and iron deficiency was 34.6%. Dietary intakes did not provide right amounts of micronutrients to meet body requirements. There is the need to formulate and implement nutrition education programs to correct micronutrient deficiency among primary school-attending children in Lagos, Nigeria.
Highlights
Micronutrient malnutrition affects the health and survival of more than 2 billion people worldwide [1]
For ages 9 - 13 yrs, the mean intake of micronutrients showed that iron was 11.03 ± 12.72 mg/d (138% of DRI), zinc was 8.44 ± 7.79 mg/d (105% of DRI) and copper was 3.75 ± 15.17 mg/d (536% of DRI)
Biochemical results indicated that 19.8% of the subjects had inadequate serum iron, 21% and 32.1% were zinc and copper deficient respectively
Summary
Micronutrient malnutrition affects the health and survival of more than 2 billion people worldwide [1]. Deficiencies of iron, iodine, and vitamin A are the most widespread forms of micronutrient malnutrition with public health consequences [2]. School age children are at an increased risk of micronutrient deficiency owing to increased energy expenditure, combined with decreased meal frequency and reduced maternal attention, and parasitic infections. Anaemia (which could result from iron deficiency) is estimated to affect one half of the school age children in developing countries [4]. School age children like most populations in low-income countries, suffer from multiple micronutrient deficiencies. 13 to 27 percent of pre-school children are estimated to have two or more micronutrient deficiencies suggesting that 100 million pre-school children worldwide are affected [9] Inferences can be drawn from data on pre-school children. 13 to 27 percent of pre-school children are estimated to have two or more micronutrient deficiencies suggesting that 100 million pre-school children worldwide are affected [9]
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