Evaluation of Nutritional Status, Electrolytes and Anion Gap of Primary School Pupils Below the Age of 10 in Ekpoma, Edo State

Evaluation of Nutritional status, electrolytes and Anion gap of Primary School Pupils below the age of 10. A total of one hundred (100) samples were recruited for this study which comprises of sixty (60) primary school children and forty (40) apparently healthy adults which served as the control. Blood samples were collected by vene-puncture into an accurately labelled lithium heparin and fluoride oxalate containers for both subjects and control. The results of the results revealed that glucose levels were significantly lower (p<0.05) in primary school children (50.70±8.94mg/dl) when compared with the control (85.78±14.20mg/dl). Also total protein levels were significantly lower (p<0.05) in primary school children (4.30±1.31mg/dl) when compared with the control (7.02±1.15mg/dl). Also albumin levels were significantly lower (p<0.05) in primary school children (1.72±0.51mg/dl) when compared with the control (4.01±0.30mg/dl). Also sodium levels were significantly lower (p<0.05) in primary school children (131.58±2.58mmol/l) when compared with the control (133.60±1.65mmol/l). Also potassium levels were significantly lower (p<0.05) in primary school children (3.17±0.20mmol/l) when compared with the control (3.62±0.21mmol/l). Also chloride levels were significantly lower (p<0.05) in primary school children (97.77±1.93mmol/l) when compared with the control (105.08±1.12mmol/l). Also bicarbonate levels were significantly lower (p<0.05) in primary school children (18.78±0.87mmol/l) when compared with the control (21.78±1.17mmol/l). Globulin levels were lower (p>0.05) in primary school children (2.58±1.34mmol/l) when compared with the control (3.01±1.04mmol/l). Also anion gap levels were significantly higher (p<0.05) in primary school children (18.15±2.50mmol/l) when compared with the control (13.18±1.79mmol/l). The results of this study revealed that there were significant alterations of these parameters in primary school children, hence confirming that malnutrition could be a real problem among primary school children of this community.