Impact of dietary iron intake on anaemia in Tanzanian schoolchildren
| dc.contributor.author | Ndossi, Godwin D. | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2020-07-09T11:52:00Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2020-07-09T11:52:00Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2004 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Objective. To investigate the nutritional relationship between dietary intake and prevalence of anaemia among Tanzanian schoolchildren. Methods. Dietary intakes of 101 schoolchildren aged 7 - 12 years were assessed using a pre-tested food frequency questionnaire. Haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit, erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP) and serum ferritin (SF) were used to determine their anaemia and iron status. Other socio-economic variables were collected using a profile questionnaire. Results. Significantly lower intake of iron was seen in 48% of schoolchildren with Hb < 11.5 g/dl (anaemic) compared with those who were normal. Total iron intake was 22 ± 7 and 27 ± 13 mg/day respectively (p < 0.05). There was a general poor intake of iron from animal sources in all children. A higher iron intake was found in schoolchildren with normal iron status (by EP and SF levels) than in those who were not normal (26 ± 11 mg/day v. 22 ± 9 mg/day, p < 0.05). Iron deficiency was found in 45% of schoolchildren (N = 80) and 31% were categorised as having iron deficiency anaemia. The mean energy intake in boys was higher than in girls (2 150 ± 770 v. 1 830 ± 895 kcal/day respectively). Boys also had a higher intake of ascorbic acid (50 ± 32 v. 31 ± 23 mg/day, p > 0.05). In stepwise multiple regression analysis, daily iron intake remained the most significant nutrient predicting for Hb status. There was a significant correlation between iron intake and serum ferritin (r = 0.233, p < 0.05). Conclusion. Iron intake in this Tanzanian community is inadequate for maintaining normal iron nutrition. The factors contributing to the inadequacy include consumption of foods with low iron bioavailability. Food-based intervention should be one of the important strategies for reducing the magnitude of the problem of anaemia in this community. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.citation | Tatala, S., Ndossi, G., Svanberg, U. and Ash, D., 2004. Impact of dietary iron intake on anaemia in Tanzanian schoolchildren. South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 17(3), pp.94-100. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.issn | https://doi.org/10.1080/16070658.2004.11734026 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/478 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.publisher | South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition | en_US |
| dc.subject | Dietary iron intake | en_US |
| dc.subject | Anaemia | en_US |
| dc.subject | Tanzanian schoolchildren | en_US |
| dc.title | Impact of dietary iron intake on anaemia in Tanzanian schoolchildren | en_US |
| dc.type | Article | en_US |