Abstract

ROJAS, Lizbeth et al. Nutritional status, consumption of dairy products and levels sericos of calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatases in schoolchildren of Mérida. An Venez Nutr [online]. 2011, vol.24, n.2, pp.58-64. ISSN 0798-0752.

A cross-sectional descriptive correlational field research was conducted in order to determine the nutritional status, consumption of milk and serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase in students of 1st, 3rd and 5th grades of the "Rafael Antonio Gonzalez "school in Mesa Bolívar in 2007. The population consisted of 171 students. We determined the sample with a simple random stratified method, yielding 47% of school enrollment, corresponding to 80 children distributed by grade: 21 children in 1st, 28 in 3rd, 31 in 5th, aged 6 to 12 years old. The amount and frequency of consumption of dairy products, with an "ad hoc" questionnaire designed containing 10 items related to the frequency of consumption, quantity and type of dairy product. Nutritional assessment was carried out by means of the combination of indicators (weight for height and height for age) using the tables of evaluation of the World Health Organization. Values were determined in serum calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase. The students had 32,6% of malnutrition, both boys (6-10 years and 11-12 years) and girls (8-12 years) had an adequate percentage of low calcium daily intake(77.16%, 28. 57% and 38.96%, respectively) and 60% had hypocalcemia. There is statistical significance between serum calcium and phosphorus with an average daily intake of calcium (p 0.05 and p 0.04). There was no statistically significant relationship between dairy products consumption and nutritional status of schoolchildren. The nutritional status of schoolchildren does not depend on daily consumption of dairy products, however, that consumption does affect serum calcium and phosphorus.

Keywords : Dairy products; nutritional assessment; school; calcium; phosphorus; alkaline phosphatases.

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