Micronutrients Fe, Zn and Ca and their relationship with anthropometric indices and dental health among children

Proper nutrition has an important role in the physical and psychological development of children. The aim of this survey is to compare the nutrition of a community to the recommended daily amount (RDA) to determine deficiencies and present recommendations for improvement. In this cross-sectional study conducted in Tehran, Iran, 788 children, all seven years of age, were selected via cluster sampling and evaluated using standard questionnaires with a 24-hr recall regarding the frequency and type of food intake. Then by measurement of weight and height, their anthropometric and DMFT (decayed/missing/filled teeth) indices were determined using the Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance, and Mann-Whitney U and chi-square tests. Relative to the RDA, 23.6% of children had low intake of Ca, and 3.2% and 5.2% were deficient for Fe and Zn, respectively. Anthropometric measurements showed that 15.7% were malnourished based on weight for age, 10.5% based on height for age and 16.8% based on weight for height indices. The DMFT indices for children with dietary Ca levels under 75% of the RDA were significantly higher than those with sufficient Ca intake (P<0.001). The mean DMFT indices for dental development were 0.22 for permanent teeth (four molars; SD=0.64) and 4.64 for primary teeth (SD=3.24). We found a significant correlation between DMFT indices and low Fe intake: the DMFT indices of children with iron deficiency were much higher than those with sufficient iron intake. Children in Tehran do not receive enough Ca Fe and Zn from their diets. This problem causes mild malnutrition and increases the risk of dental caries.