Food and Nutrition Sciences, 2011, 2, 1063-1070
doi:10.4236/fns.2011.210142 Published Online December 2011 http://www.scirp.org/Journal/PaperInformation.aspx?paperID=16353
Copyright © 2011 SciRes. FNS
1063
Title: Iron, Zinc, and Copper Malnutrition among Primary School Children in Lagos, Nigeria

Authors: Ifeoma A. Akeredolu1, Babatunde E. Oguntona2, Chinwe Okafor3, Olufemi J. Osisanya4

1Department of Home Economics, School of Technical Education, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Nigeria; 2University Of Ag-riculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; 3The Federal Poly Technic, Ilaro, Nigeria; 4Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Nigeria.
E-mail: favours94@yahoo.co.uk, {baahtunde, yvonnechi2003, femongaga}@yahoo.com
Received January 7th, 2011; revised October 12th, 2011; accepted October 19th, 2011.


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 in-ferential 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), 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. 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 pro-grams to correct micronutrient deficiency among primary school-attending children in Lagos, Nigeria.
Keywords: Micronutrient Status, Iron, Zinc, Copper, Primary School Children, Nigeria

Now I know why Lagosians don't think straight. All the Fe, Zn and Cu needed for straight thinking are lacking.

75% of Lagosians are Igbos. Little wonder the rabid bigots on Nairaland argue blindly.

Maybe they need Nutrition Subsidy.
Ist class citizens!

Rhino.5dm:

75% of Lagosians are Igbos. Little wonder the rabid bigots on Nairaland argue blindly.

The remaining 25% (non Igbos) are the Fe, Zn and Cu-deficient ones. Duh!!!!

This yoruba supèriority complex thing na die oh. . . . Chai

sheyguy:

This yoruba supèriority complex thing na die oh. . . . Chai

It looks like you are also Fe, Cu and Zn-deficient. Otherwise how can somebody lacking those essential elements consider himself superior? Warped logic.

If u and ur likes dont feel inferior why chase yorubas all over NL. Yoruba this Yoruba that u no dey tire?

Nchara bruv, mehn u sabi find trouble lol. Links upon links. All na trouble u dey find.

sheyguy:

If u and your likes dont feel inferior why chase yorubas all over NL. Yoruba this Yoruba that u no dey tire?

I cant believe you are talking about chasing people around on NL? You of all people? Remember what I told you a few days back?

edited

What is this supposed to imply

Was this your final year project in university?

Is this to prove to people that you attended school?

Truthfully, i doubt that you understand a third of what you posted, otherwise, you wouldn't have!!!

Me thinks the only thing you understood was the title.

jmaine:

^
My bad, you were right about my misunderstanding the topic cos i zoomed in to curtail Nchara penchant for mischievous post . . .but your assumption, that i do not understand a third of what i wrote was very wrong . . .it was just a case of the right facts on the wrong thread . . . so let's leave it at that . .

Thanks for bringing it to my notice anyway . .

Nah man.

My post was directed at Nchara. I don't think he has any idea about what he put up there.

ziga:

Nah man.

My post was directed at Nchara. I don't think he has any idea about what he put up there.

Thanks all the same man . . cos i equally misfired . . .

Nchara:

I cant believe you are talking about chasing people around on NL? You of all people? Remember what I told you a few days back?

I can't remember u telling me nada, ur post history tells it all, u r just anoda ibo chest beating warrior, always trying to downgrade others . . . . I bet u forgot ibos r '90%' + of Lagos