Parameters of nutrition in school girls in southwestern Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES: To document trends in parameters of nutrition in south-western Nigerian school girls in comparison with earlier reports and provide baseline data for future comparison. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Fifteen secondary schools from the five local governments in Ibadan, Oyo State in south-western Nigeria. SUBJECTS: One thousand six hundred and seventy five apparently healthy female students aged between nine and twenty three years. RESULTS: One thousand six hundred and seventy three questionnaires were analysed. The mean age, mean height and mean body weight were 15.45 years +/- 2.06 (SD), 154.98cm +/- 8.4(SD) and 46.09kg +/- 8.8 (SD) respectively. The mean body fat was 11.12kg +/- 4.6 (SD); mean lean body mass (LBM) was 34.96kg +/- 4.6 (SD); mean total body water (TBW) was 25.17L +/- 3.3 (SD) and the mean body index (BMI) was 19.07kg/m2 +/- 2.7 (SD). Girls from upper socio-economic background had significantly higher values of anthropometric measurements and body composition for each age than lower socioeconomic class girls. Compared with their peers from another Nigerian city investigated two decades ago, girls in this study were significantly lighter and shorter. CONCLUSION: The study revealed a decline in nutritional parameters among adolescents. The implications of these findings for the reproductive health of Nigerian women are discussed. Serial studies to monitor trends in adolescents are recommended.

Energy intakes, anthropometry and body composition of Nigerian adolescent girls: a case study of an institutionalized secondary school in Ibadan.

Twenty-two apparently healthy Nigerian adolescent girls aged 11-17 years residing in a hostel, were studied over five consecutive days in order to assess their energy intake (EI), energy cost of specific activities and body composition (BC). The mean characteristics of the group were: height 1.58 (SD 0.1, range 1.42-1.68) m, body weight 49.1 (SD 7.9, range 34.0-61.0) kg and BMI 19.5 (SD 2.0, range 16.0-23.0) kg/m2. The food intake of each subject was assessed by direct weighing and its energy value was determined by means of a ballistic bomb calorimeter. BMR values were calculated according to Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization/United Nations University (FAO/WHO/UNU) (1985) equations. Percentage body fat (BF%) values were derived from three skinfold thickness measurements, using population-specific equations. The adolescents' mean daily EI was found to be 6510 (SD 855) kJ/d (138.3 (SD 27.8) kJ/kg body weight per d) which is lower than the FAO/WHO/UNU (1985) calculated energy requirement of 8800 kJ/d for adolescent girls aged 12-14 years. The contributions of specific nutrients and individual meals to the total EI were: carbohydrate, protein and fat, 59.2, 12.5 and 28.3% of energy respectively and breakfast, lunch and supper, 21.5, 41.0 and 37.4% respectively. However, the mean BMR was 5627 kJ/d, which is comparable with that given by FAO/WHO/UNU (1985) for adolescent girls aged 13-14 years. The mean BF% was found to be 21.7. The comparatively low EI of the participants in the present study may be indicative of energy deficiency in their meals. This assumption is also reflected in their BC values. Nevertheless, further studies of this kind on adolescents in Nigeria are needed to confirm these observations.

Basal metabolic rate and energy expenditure of pregnant Nigerian women.

The purpose of the present study was to compare basal metabolic rates (BMR) of pregnant Nigerian women from rural and urban areas with values from similar studies in other Third World countries. We also investigated possible changes in BMR during the course of pregnancy. An open-circuit indirect calorimeter was used to measure BMR and energy expenditure (EE) during sedentary activity in forty-one pregnant Nigerian women. The results showed marked variability in BMR among individuals. A correlation analysis between BMR and other biological and physical characteristics revealed bodyweight and gestation as the only variables related to BMR and oxygen consumption. The study revealed no significant difference between BMR and EE of sedentary activity in the subjects. The wide variability may have been due to the nutritional status of the subjects studied, who were drawn largely from the lower socioeconomic groups of Nigerian society. The present study shows that socioeconomic status and nutritional interventions should be taken into account when framing recommendations for maternal nutrition during pregnancy.

PIP: This study compared basal metabolic rates (BMR) of pregnant Nigerian women from rural and urban areas with values from similar studies in other 3rd world countries. The authors also investigated possible changes in BMR during the course of pregnancy. An open-circuit indirect calorimeter was used to measure BMR and energy expenditure (EE) during sedentary activity in 41 pregnant Nigerian women. The results showed marked variability in BMR among individuals. A correlation analysis between BMR and other biological and physical characteristics revealed body weight and gestation as the only variables related to BMR and oxygen consumption. The study revealed no significant difference between BMR and EE of sedentary activity in the subjects. The wide variability may have been due to the nutritional status of the subjects studied, who were drawn largely from the lower socioeconomic groups of Nigerian society. The present study shows that socioeconomic status and nutritional interventions should be taken into account when framing recommendations for maternal nutrition during pregnancy.

Body composition, energy, protein and iron intake of Nigerian female nursing students.

100 apparently healthy female nursing students (aged 20-30 years) were studied. A 24 hours dietary recall was recorded. Additionally a questionnaire was elaborated to collect dietary parameters for 3 days. From the mean daily food intake the energy, protein and iron intake was calculated. A series of anthropometric measurements, i.e. body weight, body height and skinfold thickness (triceps, breast, scapula, abdomen) were used to determine total body fat, lean body mass, optimum weight, and relation weight. The mean total body fat of the 100 subjects was (21.3 +/- 5.1) % and (12.7 +/- 4.4) kg, respectively, the optimum weight (56.6 +/- 6.3) kg and the mean relative weight (101 +/- 12.4) %. 11% of the 100 subjects studied was underweight, 73% showed normal weight, 10% was overweight and 6% obese. All the age groups met their energy and protein requirements as well as the iron intake.

Energy intake, expenditure and pattern of daily activity of Nigerian male students.

1. Twenty apparently healthy and normal Nigerian male students, resident at the University of Ibadan campus, were studied for seven consecutive days to assess their food energy intake and expenditure and pattern of their daily activities. 2. The mean age (years) of the group was 24.0 (SD 3.23, range 20-30), mean height (m) 1.71 (SD 0.06, range 1.61-1.84) and body-weight (kg) was 61.1 (SD 5.01, range 51.0-69.5). 3. The food intake of each subject was obtained by direct weighing and its energy value determined using a ballistic bomb calorimeter. Patterns of daily activities were recorded and the energy costs of representative activities were determined by indirect calorimetry. 4. Activities mainly involved sitting, mean 580 (SD 167, range 394-732) min/d. Sleeping and standing activities took a mean of 445 (SD 112) and 115 (SD 75) min/d respectively. Personal domestic activities took a mean of 94 (SD 40) min/d. 5. The mean energy intake of the group was 11,182 (SD 1970) kJ/d or 183 (SD 32) kJ/kg body-weight per d. This value is lower than the 12.5 MJ/d recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/World Health Organization (WHO) (1973) as the energy requirement for an adult man engaged in moderate activities, but it is higher than the FAO/WHO/United Nations University (UNU) (1985) recommended value of 10.8 MJ/d for a male office clerk (light activity). It is also lower than the recommended energy requirement of 11.6 MJ/d for a subsistence farmer (moderately active work) (FAO/WHO/UNU, 1985). 6. The mean energy expenditure of the male subjects was 9876 (SD 1064, range 7159-12,259) kJ/d and was lower than mean intake. 7. The energy intake and expenditure values indicated that the groups participating in the present study were not physically very active. It is an indication that the Nigerian male students expended less but probably consumed more energy than required. It is suggested for health reasons and for mental fitness that the Nigerian male students might undertake more physical exercise.

Food intake and energy expenditure of Nigerian female students.

Twenty apparently healthy and normal Nigerian female students, resident at the University of Ibadan campus, were studied for seven consecutive days to assess their food energy intake and energy expenditure during sedentary and physical activities. The mean age (years) of the group was 20.05 (SD 3.44, range 16-29), mean height (m) 1.62 (SD 0.07, range 1.47-1.74) and body-weight (kg) 51.28 (SD 3.21, range 46-58). The food intake of each subject was obtained by direct weighing, and the energy value determined using a ballistic bomb calorimeter. Daily activities were recorded and the energy cost of representative activities was determined by indirect calorimetry. Activities mainly involved sitting, mean (min/d) 354 (SD 84, range 253-475). Personal domestic activities took a mean of 162 (SD 73) min/d. Sleeping took a mean of 451 (SD 62) min/d. The mean energy intake of the group was 8480 (SD 1316) kJ/d or 167 (SD 30.6) kJ/kg body-weight per d. This value is lower than that recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization (FAO/WHO) (1973) as the energy requirement for adult women engaged in light activities (9205 kJ/d), but it is higher than the FAO/WHO/United Nations University (UNU) (1985) recommended value of 8326 kJ (1990 kcal)/d for a housewife in an affluent society. It is lower than the recommended intake of 9350 kJ/d for rural women in developing countries (FAO/WHO/UNU, 1985). The mean energy expenditure (kJ/d) of the female subjects was 6865 (SD 214, range 6519-7222). Mean energy expenditure was lower than mean energy intake. The energy intake and expenditure values indicated that the subjects participating in the present study were not physically very active. It is suggested, for health reasons, that they might undertake more physical activity.