Nutrient Intakes of Children in a Rural Nigerian Community

The food intake for 3 meals of 30 children randomly selected from Olodo village Nigeria was analyzed for energy protein iron calcium riboflavin and vitamin C. Food contents were weighed before and after cooking and the weight of the portion given to weaned children under age 15 was used for analysis. Results were reported as percentage of the FAO/WHO Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA). The mean caloric intake for preschool school and pre-adolescent children were 801 1123 and 903 kcal per day respectively. 9% of those who did not meet RDAs for energy also did not meet RDAs for micronutrients. The daily calcium intakes were 35 39 and 22% of the RDAs. Protein and iron were above the RDA for all groups except the adolescent protein intake. Riboflavin and vitamin C intakes were suboptimal in all groups ranging from 55-99% of the RDA. Unlike city dwellers Nigerian villagers can afford beans fish and bush meat and have a plentiful supply of leafy vegetables although they rarely consume greens. The results confirm the suspicion of local people that nutritional adequacy has declined in recent years in Nigeria. It is possible however that the RDAs are too high for these children.