DETERMINATION OF CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS IN STAPLE FOODS IN RICKETS PREVALENT AREAS IN NIGERIA

DETERMINATION OF CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS IN STAPLE FOODS IN RICKETS PREVALENT AREAS IN NIGERIA

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 7 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.

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