ABSTRACT

Haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (Hcl), plasma iron (PI) and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) were measured in 100 adolescents (68 boys and 32 girls) aged 14-17 years in three secondary schools on Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State. Of the subjects, 33, 26 and 31 per cent had Hb, Kct and PI Levels below accepted normal values respectively. 26 per cent of them had values below normal in all the three parameter .

Further analysis of Hb levels in the population studied showed that 44.74 per cent of the females and 25.8 percent of the males had Hb levels below normal (11 g/dl) indicating a higher occurence of anaemia in the females. Direct measurements of 7-day food intake revealed that intakes of iron, protein and energy were below recommended allowance for both sexes. A significant relationship was also observed between dietary iron intake and scrum iron levels.