Abstract

In this study, the food intake, feces and urine of 14 primary school age boys and girls were collected and intake and excretion of iron and zinc were measured. The boys and girls were 8-12 years old and measurement continued for four weeks during which they maintained their normal living pattern. Each boy's and girl's daily intake and excretion of iron and zinc were measured and apparent digestibility and balance were also calculated. The results are as follows. Mean daily intake of iron was $14.9\pm{0.6mg}$ for the boys and $12.4\pm{0.5mg}$ for the girls. Mean daily intake of zinc was $11.8\pm{1.2mg}$ for the boys and $11.5\pm{0.4mg}$ for the girls. Mean daily fecal loss and apparent digestibility of iron was $6.1\pm{0.3mg}$ and $58.8\pm{2.0%}$ for the boys and $6.8\pm{0.1mg}$ and $44.1\pm{2.0%}$ for the girls. Mean daily fecal loss and apparent digestibility of zinc was $9.3\pm{0.2mg}$ and $14.4\pm{5.1%}$ for the boys and $9.7\pm{0.4mg}$ and $14.3\pm{4.3%}$ for the girls. Mean daily urinary loss of iron was $1.1\pm{0.1mg}$ and showed the positive balance of $7.86\pm{0.6mg}$ for the boys and $0.5\pm{0.1mg}$ and showed the positive balance of $5.14\pm{0.4mg}$ for the girls. Mean daily urinary loss of zinc was $0.5\pm{0.1mg}$ and showed the positive balance of $1.03\pm{0.6mg}$ for the girls.

Keywords

• iron;
• zinc;
• food intake;
• fecal loss;
• urinary loss;
• apparent digestibility balance