Table 8.
Energy and nutrient intake of the foods consumed by adolescents in boarding secondary schools.
| Nutrients | RDA | Male, M (SD) n = 52 | Female, M (SD) n = 112 | t-test | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Energy (kcal) | 2162.70 | 1311.7 (442.4) | 1473.8 (567.7) | −1.989 | 0.049 |
| Protein (g) | 63.90 | 93.9 (28.4) | 67.6 (20.9) | 5.986 | <0.001∗ |
| Fat (g) | 73.40 | 58.3 (32.3) | 89.0 (38.3) | −5.013 | <0.001∗ |
| Carbohydrates (g) | 308.70 | 535.6 (177.2) | 408.3 (117.6) | 4.719 | <0.001∗ |
| Iron (mg) | 9.00 and 12.50 | 10.6 (7.7) | 7.8 (4.9) | 2.430 | 0.018∗ |
| Vitamin C (mg) | 30.00 | 26.7 (53.8) | 22.9 (23.9) | 0.485 | 0.630 |
| Calcium (mg) | 450.00 | 139.2 (97.3) | 130.8 (81.6) | 0.576 | 0.565 |
| Zinc (mg) | 6.5, 9.4, and 10.20 | 4.6 (2.9) | 4.0 (2.0) | 1.324 | 0.190 |
|
| |||||
| Age distribution | |||||
| Nutrients | RDA | 16-17 M (SD) n = 20 | 18-19 M (SD) n = 144 | t-test | P value |
| Energy (kcal) | 2162.70 | 1482.2 (544.9) | 1414.1 (535.2) | 0.533 | 0.595 |
| Protein (g) | 63.90 | 69.4 (19.4) | 76.8 (27.2) | −1.185 | 0.238 |
| Fat (g) | 73.40 | 95.2 (39.6) | 77.1 (38.7) | 1.955 | 0.052 |
| Carbohydrates (g) | 308.70 | 415.2 (123.2) | 453.3 (154.1) | −1.058 | 0.292 |
| Iron (mg) | 9.00 and 12.50 | 6.6 (4.5) | 8.9 (6.2) | −1.642 | 0.103 |
| Vitamin C (mg) | 30.00 | 18.8 (21.7) | 24.8 (37.5) | −0.705 | 0.482 |
| Calcium (mg) | 450.00 | 135.6 (117.2) | 133.1 (82.0) | 0.119 | 0.906 |
| Zinc (mg) | 6.5, 9.4, and 10.20 | 3.6 (1.9) | 4.3 (2.4) | −1.327 | 0.186 |
∗Statistically significant (P < 0.001); nutrient intake was computed by NutriSurvey for Windows 2007 and the Tanzania Food Composition Table, 2008. RDA represents the Recommended Daily Allowances, ≥RDA represents above or equal to the RDA, and <RDA represents below the RDA.