Assessment of Nutritional Status in Male School Children using Complete Blood Count and Serum Folic Acid
Pages : 46-48Download PDF
Folate is one of the water soluble vitamins. It plays an essential role in cellular metabolism and is required for large number of reactions involving transfer of one-carbon units from one compound to another. Anemia is a common health problem throughout the world, and usually affects the work capability and mental capacity of the human. The most common anemia is nutritional type due to iron and folic acid deficiency in infancy, childhood, and pregnancy. Objective of the study.This study had been done over four months to assess the nutritional status in male students of the primary schools, through detection of hemoglobin (Hb) level, red blood cell (RBCs) count, hematocrit (HCT) , and serum folate. Study design. A total number of hundred students of male primary schools were included in this study. 2.5 ml of blood was collected from each student into Ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid ( EDTA) container to estimate Hb level, RBCs count, HCT , using Sysmex (automated blood analyzer). Another 2.5 ml of blood was collected from the same student into plain container and analyzed for serum folate. Results. The results showed that the means of Hb, RBCs count, and PCV were 12.7 g/dl (±2 SD), count 4.7×1012/l, 37.2%, respectively , and the mean of serum folate were 4.4.ng/l. Conclusion. This study concluded the blood parameters and seum folate were with normal ranges. compared to control group. Nutritional status of priamary school students was good according to the results. This sort of study should be done regularly to evaluate the nutritional status of children
Keywords: Nutritional status. School children, Complete blood count, Serum folate