Micronutrient intake in nursing students from the Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí, Ecuador.

Micronutrient intake in university students

Abstract

Introduction. The knowledge of the intake of micronutrients contributes to the conception of actions for the support of health, in correspondence the following objective is assumed: to evaluate the intake of micronutrients in nursing students of the Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí, Ecuador. Materials and methods. A descriptive, cross-sectional observational research is presented on 633 students from the Universidad Laica “Eloy Alfaro” in Manabí. The micronutrient intake was determined through food consumption, using a 24-hour recall survey, then processed with the Ceres + application and calculation of the contribution of vitamins and minerals. The reference values ​​were those proposed by the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition. Statistical processing was performed with the SPSS version 23 application. Results. The consumption of vitamins shows average values ​​similar to or higher than those used as reference for B1, B2, B3, B6 and C, and lower in E, A and B9. The availability of minerals declares P and Zn with a generalized deficiency, but not Ca and Cu with needs covered in women. Iron availability is similar in men and women, however, given a greater physiological need in the latter, it shows deficiencies for them. Conclusions. The deficiencies in the consumption of vitamins and minerals shows the existence of hidden hunger, a condition of risk for the development of catastrophic non-communicable diseases to be maintained for a long period of time.