Prevalência da deficiência de Zinco em crianças e adolescentes em novo Cruzeiro, Vale do Mucuri - Minas Gerais, 2009

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of zinc deficiency and associated factors in children and adolescents aged 6 months to 14 years of age in the municipality of Novo Cruzeiro, Vale Mucuri, Minas Gerais. Method: We assessed the nutritional status of zinc in 1000 children and adolescents aged 6 months through 14 years of zinc in plasma, dietary intake of zinc and height-for, as recommended by the International Zinc Consulative Group (IZiNCG ). With the serum concentrations of zinc were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry Flame, considering how zinc deficiency values below 65ìmol / L. Food consumption was recorded by semiquantitative foodfrequency questionnaire (SFFQ), and for children and adolescents who attended local schools and daycare centers was assessed intake of food offered in kindergartens and schools by the direct weighing method for three days . Inadequate dietary zinc was analyzed by the method of cut-off point using the estimated average requirement (EAR). We adopted the standard Child Growth World Health Organization (WHO) on child height for age, considering stunting in children who had two this index z scores below the median value of reference population. For statistical analysis, we used the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 14.0. Results: The prevalence of zinc deficiency in plasma, inadequate dietary zinc and low height for age were 34.5%, 33.6% and 11.40% respectively. As risk factors among preschool children, found the presence of anemia (p = 0.000) and the countryside as a place of residence (p = 0.022), while for the school age group, risk factors were associated inadequate intake of zinc (p = 0.004) and presence of parasites (p = 0.025). Conclusions: The study population had moderate risk of zinc deficiency, since high prevalences were found for plasma levels of zinc, dietary intake and chronic malnutrition.