Evaluation of micronutrient intakes [vitamins and minerals] in university students

ABSTRACT

Prior investigators have emphasized on the key role of nutrition in preventing health disorders. This study is a part of an exhaustive research to assess nutritional status in Iran medical sciences university students. Indeed, we aimed to assess and evaluate daily nutrient intake among male and female university students. For this cross sectional study, 1000 university students were selected by multistage random sampling from six faculties of Medicine, Nursing and midwifery, Paramedical, Health, Management and medical information and Rehabilitation. Data were collected by 24-hour dietary [food] recall questionnaire and were analyzed using DFP [N3, FP2], and SPSS soft wares. The intake of vitamins and minerals were compared with RDA. Results showed that the mean intake of vitamins C, A, E, folic acid and panthetonic acid were lower than RDA measures and differed significantly between male and female subjects. The mean intake of minerals showed inadequate levels of Ca, Fe, Zn, Mg, K. It seems that daily dietary in medical university students has some insufficiency in vitamins E,C,A, folic acid and panthetonic acid and minerals calcium, magnesium, and iron [only in females]