Affiliations: [a] Hassan 1st University, High Institute of Health Sciences, Laboratory of Health Sciences and Technics, Settat, Morocco
| [b] Cadi Ayyad University, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Laboratory of Human Ecology, Marrakesh, Morocco
| [c] Consultant epidemiologist, Luxembourg
| [d] Unidad de Antropología, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Correspondence:
[*]
Correspondence to: El Mokhtari Oussama, Laboratory of Health Sciences and Technics, High Institute of Health Sciences, Hassan 1st University, Post Box 539, Settat, Morocco. Tel.: +212667754847; E-mail: o.elmokhtari@uhp.ac.ma; ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4984-7320
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Inadequate nutrient intakes in adolescents may negatively affect their future health. The identification of inadequate micronutrient intakes by dietary study provides essential information to guide educational strategies for promoting healthy eating habits. OBJECTIVE:To assess the daily micronutrient intake and the prevalence of inadequacy in a sample of middle and high-school pupils in the Rif region of Morocco. METHODS:A cross-sectional study collected dietary information from food records over three non-consecutive days in a sample (n = 302) of Moroccan Riffian adolescents (12–18 years). The DIAL software, adapted for commonly eaten Moroccan foods, was used to estimate micronutrient intakes. The proportion of individuals with intakes below the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) or the Adequate Intake (AI) level and the probability approach were used to estimate the prevalence of inadequacy. RESULTS:Regardless of gender and age group, our subjects were found to be particularly at risk of inadequate intakes of vitamins E and D, calcium and potassium. Older adolescents (14–18 years) also showed a risk of inadequate intake of folate, biotin, magnesium, iodine and zinc (among boys). CONCLUSION:For many nutrients, the daily diets of our Riffian adolescents do not meet the recommended intake levels. We emphasize the need for monitoring the dietary habits of adolescents and the development of nutrition education programs. Further studies which include the clinical and biological assessment of nutritional status, as well as the regular collection of quality and nationally representative micronutrient data, are recommended.
