Nutritional Status Of Males' College Students And Its Relationship To Some Demographic Characteristics

The study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between nutritional status of males' college students and their some demographic characteristics. It included 88 students (18-24 years old) from those getting meals in the restaurant of Faculty of Agriculture Cairo University. Nutritional status and demographic characteristics assessment were based on questionnaires. Dietary intakes were collected through personal interview with each student using a 24 hour recall method. The obtained data were statistically analyzed. The study also included determinations of hemoglobin, glucose, total cholesterol and iron concentrations in the serum.
The results revealed that half of students belonged to medium social level and income. The percentages of students getting acceptable daily intakes of calories, calcium, iron and vitamin B₁ of RDAs recommendations were 47.1, 29.4, 41.2 and 29.4%. However, the intakes of 41.2, 58.8 and 35.3% of students exceeded protein, zinc and vitamin C RDAs. On the other hand, 29.4, 29.4 and 35.3% of students under study received unacceptable amounts of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin B₂ and 52.9, 41.2, 88.2, 35.3 and 70.6% got insufficient amount of cupper, magnesium, selenium, vitamin B2 and vitamin A RDAs.
Restaurants' meal exceeded students' needs for protein, zinc, sodium and potassium, being 107.61, 104.28, 110.58 and 103.93% of RDAs, respectively.  The nutritive value of meal contributed to, 22.05, 81.43, 87.64, 25.00, 41.58 and 53.52% of RDAs for calcium, iron, phosphorus, cupper, magnesium and selenium, respectively. It also provided 30.89, 41.67, 15.38 and 8.90% of vitamins C, B₁, B₂ and A, in respective order.
Mean concentrations of hemoglobin (13.44g/dl), glucose (95.00mg/dl), total cholesterol (134.33mg/dl) and iron (128.20µg/l) values were within the normal values. Results demonstrated that significantly positively correlations between family income and some students' daily nutrients intakes, i.e. protein and fat. Social level was correlated with protein and carbohydrates intakes, while, family size was correlated to protein intake. Thus, it is recommended for college students to establish regular, good quality meals and consuming more vitamin and mineral nutrition's for optimal health conditions.