Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ISSN 2309-8902
IDOSI Publications, 2013
DOI: 10.5829/idosi.ajn.2013.2.1.7466
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Abstract: Growth retardation is highly prevalent among children in low-income countries. Infections and
inadequate food intake are well-established causes of growth retardation; however, the possible specific role
of micronutrient deficiencies in the etiology of growth retardation and other developmental and health
outcomes has gained attention recently. The aim of the present study was to provide information about
nutritional status of stunted Egyptian preschool children and their dietary intake, which will help in designing
a proper nutrition education massages &appropriate preventive strategies to improve linear growth. The study
was designed as a case control study included (100) Egyptian children aged 2-<6 years old, with delayed linear
growth, proportionate stunted, randomly selected from the stunted outpatient clinic of National Nutrition
Institute (NNI) and results were compared to (50) age, sex and socioeconomic matching control. All participants
were subjected to the baseline assessment (Full history- clinical examination- anthropometric measurements
including weight & height- lab investigation including hemoglobin concentration, serum Ca, Zn, Vit. A, TSH,
T4,T3 & albumin and stool analysis - dietary intake including Twenty four-hour recall method & food
frequency questionnaire. Results showed that mean height for age Z score is significantly lower among the
stunted compared to the control group. Dietary intake analysis showed that mean intake of all minerals is
significantly lower among stunted children as compared to control group.% intake of RDA from Ca was 57.2%
for stunted as compared to 101.7% for control. Nearly the same pattern was noticed for Mg.while intake of all
macronutrients was significantly lower among stunted compared to the control group. Vitamin A intake of
stunted group represented only 67.5% of RDA as compared to 214.0% of control group; the difference was
highly significant between the two groups. All blood values of Albumin,TSH,T3,T4,Ca, Zn& Vit.A were
significantly lower among stunted group as compared to control, although within normal range, according to
cut off point of each parameter, while both groups were anaemic with no significant differences between the
two groups. As a conclusion, It seemed that dietary intake deficiency of several micronutrients of stunted
children (primarily Ca, Zn, Mg and vitamin A) & all macronutrients intake may play an important role in their
linear growth retardation. Calcium intake level among stunted children was far below the recommended figures.
Nutrition education messages encouraging high consumption of dairy products are needed to counteract this
pattern of low calcium intake. Preventive strategies to prevent stunting and promote healthy eating & milk
consumption are recommended.
Key words: Stunted growth
INTRODUCTION
Nutritional status
inadequate nutrition and infection are among factors
thought to play major role in reducing the childs heightfor-age [2]. As a manifestation of chronic under nutrition,
stunting has been linked to multiple adverse health
outcomes that extend beyond childhood into adult life [3].
Table 1: Percentage distribution of socio economic characteristics among the studied children
Socio economic
characteristics
Case N=100
-------------------------------------------------------------------Mother
Father
--------------------------------------------------No.
(%)
No.
(%)
Control N=50
--------------------------------------------------------------------Mother
Father
--------------------------------------------------No.
(%)
No.
(%)
Education :Illiterate
literate
Preparatory
Secondary
Vocational education
University
Post graduate
6
13
18
36
7
19
1
(6%)
13%
18%
36%
7%
19%
1%
7
8
14
44
7
20
0
7%
8%
14%
44%
7%
20%
0%
2
3
5
19
3
18
0
4%
6%
10%
38%
6%
36%
0%
0
4
1
24
4
17
0
0%
8%
2%
48%
8%
34%
0%
Occupation:No Occupation
Unskilled worker
Skilled worker
Semi profession
Profession
87
0
0
12
1
87%
0%
0%
12%
1%
1
37
12
36
14
1%
37%
12%
36%
14%
40
1
0
8
1
80%
2%
0%
16%
2%
0
12
6
23
9
0%
24%
12%
46%
18%
42
56
2
42%
56%
2%
7
40
3
14%
80%
6%
*Social Status:Low
Middle
High
17
67
16
17%
67%
16%
3
35
12
6%
70%
24%
Sex
Boys
Anthropometric measurements
Height
Height/ age z-score
Weight/ height z-score
Girls
Height
Height/ age z-score
Weight/ height z-score
*p = < 0.05 **p = <0.01 ***p= <0.001 NS = Not Significant
Case
--------------Mean S.D
91.98.2
-1.761.77
-0.051.25
90.057.3
-1.711.81
-0.191.18
Table 3: Mean and % intake of minerals in relation to RDA of the studied children
Case
---------------Variables
mean SD
Mean Calcium (mg) intake
314.6145.3
RDA for Ca.(mg/d)
500-600
%intake from RDA
57.2
Mean Total Iron (mg) intake
9.083.6
RDA for Iron (mg/d)
6
%intake from RDA
131.2
Mean Total Zinc (mg) intake
4.711.74
RDA for zinc(mg/d)
4.1-5.1
%intake from RDA
94.15
Mean Copper (mcg) intake
535.7227.7
RDA for Cu. (mcg/d)
340-440
%intake from RDA
137.4
Mean Selenium (mcg) intake
23.577.9
RDA for Se.(mcg/d)
20-30
%intake from RDA
94.3
Mean Iodine (g) intake
114.8244.51
RDA for Iodine (g/d)
75-110
%intake from RDA
127.58
Mean Phosphorus (mg) intake
489.3147.2
RDA for P. (mg/d)
460-500
%intake from RDA
102
Mean Magnesium (mg) intake
58.920.4
RDA for Mg. (mg/d)
%intake from RDI
Recommended Dietary allowance (RDA) Deficiency
60-75
78.7
Surplus
Control
---------------Mean S.D
98.77.13
-0.670.98
-0.771.16
101.689.4
-0.20.96
-0.992.79
P
0 .000***
0 .000***
0 .005**
0 .000***
0 .000***
0 .005**
Control
--------------mean SD
559.10256
P
0.000***
101.7
7.873.28
0.04*
121.3
5.942.62
0.001**
118.72
611.5276.3
0.08(NS)
156.8
30.513.2
0.000***
121.9
168.3793.75
0.000***
187.08
659.6233.8
0.000***
137.4
102.336.7
0.000***
153.8
Table 4: Mean and percentage of some vitamins intake in relation to RDA of the studied children
Case
--------------Variables
mean SD
Mean Thiamine (mg) intake
0.610.25
RDA for Thiamine (mg/day)
0.5-0.6
%intake from RDA
111.7
Mean Riboflavin (mg)intake
1.10.79
RDA for Riboflavin(mg/day)
0.5-0.6
%intake from RDA
201.5
Mean Niacin (mg)intake
6.82.8
RDA for Niacin (mg/day)
6-8
%intake from RDA
97
Mean Vitamin C (mg) intake
5967.9
RDA for Vitamin C (mg/day)
30
%intake from RDA
196.8
Mean Vitamin A (g) intake
286.8 129.9
RDA for Vitamin A (g/d)
400-450
%intake from RDA
67.5
Source : RDA for Ca, Mg, Zn, FeIodine and Vitamins) [23]
RDA for Cu, P, Se, Carbohydrates and fat )[25]
Control
--------------mean SD
0.66(0.25
P
0.27(NS)
120.4
1.50.8
0.009**
267
9.04.1
0.000***
129
91.387.5
0.04*
291.5
913.48 718.9
0.000***
214.0
P
0.000***
0.000***
0.000***
0.000***
Table 6: Mean (SD) of some Lab parameters among the studied children
Age
2 <6
Parameters
Hb
Albumin
TSH
T3
T4
Ca.
Zn
Vit. A
Case
---------------meanSD
9.900.82
4.27.0.43
2.360.77
3.031.01
4.171.89
8.491.84
94.1132.77
43.7117.99
Cut Of Point
11 14g/dl
3.8 5.1g/dl
0.4 7lu/ml
1.2 4.2pg/ml
7 22pg/ml
10 12mg/dl
60 110g/dl
36 120g/dl
Control
---------------meanSD
10.240.61
50.32
2.790.64
4.071.39
5.221.14
9.661.26
140.8358.17
63.4511.94
For Lab
parameters,
all
blood values of
albumin, TSH, T3, T4, Ca, Zn & Vit. A were
significantly lower among
stunted group as
compared to control, although within normal
range, according
to
cut off point of each
parameter, while both groups were anaemic with
no significant differences between the two groups
(Table 6).
Stool analysis also indicated parasitic infestation &
presence of indigestive food in nearly half of the children
from both groups.
Cases
Control
160
140.9
95.7 99.4
87.9
100
80
60
41.5
61.6
51.5
70
65.4
40.2
40
FRUITS
SUGARS
CEREALS
7.8
MILKS
7.1
20
MEATS
Mean Values
140
120
*P
0.101(NS)
0.0002 ***
0.003**
0.0003***
0.0003***
0.0008**
0.0009**
0.003**
Fig. 1: Mean food frequency pattern from different types of food among the studied children
5
120
Control
99.3
95.7
99.4
Mean Values
100
70.9
80
60
54.6
56.5
40
18.2
20
10.4
1.65
1.9
NUTS
TUBERS
BEVERAGES
LEGUMES
VEGETABLES
Fig. 2: Mean food frequency pattern from different types of food among the studied children
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES
1.
CONCLUSION
Among the studied Egyptian children, stunted
children suffered from more negative impacts, that
have profound effects on development of linear growth.
It seemed that dietary intake deficiency of several
micronutrients of stunted children (primarily Ca, Zn, Mg
and vitamin A) & all macronutrients play important roles
in their linear growth retardation. Calcium intake level
among stunted children was far below the recommended
figures. Nutrition education messages encouraging high
consumption of dairy products are needed to counteract
this pattern of low calcium intake. Preventive strategies to
prevent stunting and promote healthy eating and milk
consumption are recommended.
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