Energy and mineral nutritional status of non-resident students of Dhaka university
Keywords:
Non - Resident Students, Minerals, Nutritional Status, RDA.Abstract
Energy and mineral nutritional status of 50 male and 50 female non - resident students of
Dhaka University were investigated. Energy, protein, calcium, iron, zinc, copper and phytate
intake of the participants were calculated using dietary records of three consecutive days. Zinc
and copper levels in hair and serum of the participants were also estimated. Male and female
participants consumed 1984 Kcal ±371 ( 86.26% of RDA ) and 1547 Kcal ± 298 ( 77.35% of
RDA ) respectively. Both the sex fulfilled the RDA of protein and calcium. Male participants
consumed 110% and female consumed 51.38% of RDA of iron. Zinc intake of the
participants was found deficient to some extent. Male participants consumed 86% and female
participants consumed 96% of RDA of zinc assuming 30% absorption. But they met
normative requirements of zinc which are 4.7 mg / day for adult male and 3.33 mg / day for
adult female according to WHO. The participants of the present study consumed copper that
was comparable to average intake of other countries. Calculated phytate to zinc molar ratio of
the diets of the participants indicated 30% absorption of zinc. Zinc and copper levels in hair
and serum of the participants did not reveal any deficiency of these minerals. Eight female
participants had energy intake below 1200 Kcal per day. In this group, daily mean intake of
all the nutrients were found significantly lower than females consuming more than 1200 Kcal
per day.