The Effect of Fishmeal on the Levels of Zinc,Vitamin A Serum, Nutritional Intake and Shortness Status of Children Aged 2-4 Years after Administration of Vitamin A in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

One kind of individual nutrition services offered is supplementation of zinc (Zn) which is recommended to overcome the problem of growth among children. Animal foods which are source of zinc, such as fish, has a high quality of protein, with digestibility as of 96%. High digestibility of protein is necessary for growth and intelligence. This study aim to the effect of fishmeal on the levels of zinc, vitamin A serum, nutritional intake and shortness status of children aged 2-4 years after administration of vitamin A.

This study used experimental study design using Pre-Test and Post-Test Control Group Design. Sample size was 30 individuals, randomly selected among children aged 2-4 years with shortness status after receiving vitamin A supplementation, which was then divided into two groups of treatments: the group of vitamin A, and the group of vitamin A plus fishmeal. Nutritional status was known through anthropometric measurements using the seca and microtoise for weight and height respectively. The tools used were in state of good for use and was already been calibrated. Nutritional intake was obtained using a 24-hour recall with consumer multi-pass method. Enumerator were nutritionists, the supervisor was a professor of nutrition at Health Polytechnic Makassar. The study used an internal ethics committee approval at the department of nutrition.

Statistical analysis was done using paired t-test with 95% significance. Nutritional intake in group I (Vitamin A), all increased after the intervention except for energy intake. Significance values ??for energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, Vitamin A and Zn were (0.278) (0.000) (0.000) (0.010) (0.000) and (0.002) respectively. Nutritional intake in group II (Vitamins A, plus fishmeal), all increased after intervention except energy intake. Significance values ??for energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, Vitamin A and Zn were (0.100) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) and (0.001) respectively. Zn levels after intervention in both groups increased significantly. The only obvious difference was in increased levels of albumin which occurred in group II (Vitamin A Plus fishmeal) (p = 0.010). There was no increase in total protein levels in group II (Vitamin A plus fishmeal, while in group I, it was found a significant elevated level of total protein (p = 0.007). There was an increase in hemoglobin levels in group II but not in group I. Recommendation from the study: it is necessary to perform nutritional services efforts by providing zinc supplementation in children that suffered shortness status after receiving vitamin A.