DETERMINATION OF CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS IN STAPLE FOODS IN RICKETS PREVALENT AREAS IN KADUNA STATE.
DETERMINATION OF CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS IN STAPLE FOODS IN RICKETS PREVALENT AREAS IN KADUNA STATE.
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Date
2007-09
Authors
TURAKI, ZIK KALIK
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Abstract
The beginning of the 20th century witnessed the epidemic of nutritional rickets among
children in many countries of Asia, North America, Northern Europe and Africa. It was observed
that a low dietary intake of calcium among rural children is a major contributor to rickets disease.
Nutritional rickets remain a problem in many countries of the world despite a decline in the
prevalence of the condition in many developed countries. Prevalence of rickets remain high in
Nigeria among infants and young children and it appears to be a consequence of calcium
malnutrition. In Nigeria, 2.4% of households have been reported to have children with rickets,
while the prevalence of the bone disorder has been reported to be as high as 14.9% especially
central Nigeria. It is therefore imperative to evaluate the mineral content of some common foods
consumed by rickets disease prevalence areas of Kaduna state namely: Gonin Gora, Jankasa and
Kaso. This study was aimed at determining the calcium and phosphorus content of some staple in
the communities. Atomic Absorption (SHIMADZU MODEL 650) was used to determine the
levels of calcium and phosphorus in the food samples which were kindly provided by the
occupants of the communities. Wet digestion method was adopted for all the food sample
preparations. The results obtained showed that calcium levels in all foods were low with mean
values of 0.05611± 0.02 S.E.M., 0.0687 ± 0.04 S.E.M and 0.1272 ± 0.06 S.E.M in Gonin Gora,
Jankasa and Kaso respectively which were less than the 0.1300mg/l allowable limit. Phosphorous
levels where high with mean values of 0.5382 ± 0.09 S.E.M and 0.4308 ± 0.01 S.E.M greater
than 0.4126mg/l in Goni gora and Kaso respectively. However Phosphorus 0.2617mg/l in
Jankasa was lower than 0.4126 allowable limit. Rickets among rural children has been reported
to be attributed to low dietary calcium intake. The low levels of calcium in foods and or the low
calcium intake with high phosphorus intake could be the major causes of the disease in
these settlements especially during the period of the children growth.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE
POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL IN PARTIAL
FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTERS OF
SCIENCE PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE
Keywords
DETERMINATION, CALCIUM, PHOSPHORUS, STAPLE FOODS, RICKETS PREVALENT, KADUNA STATE