The zinc nutrition of rural Malawian children (24 females, 33 males; age 62 +/- 10 mo) consuming cereal-based diets was compared with that of rural Ghanaian children (43 females, 33 males; age 59 +/- 10 mo) consuming cereals or starchy staples, using hair zinc concentrations, growth and body composition indices, and dietary intakes. Intakes of energy, protein, Ca, Zn, dietary fiber and phytate at two seasons of the year were estimated from 3-d weighed food records, using analyzed and literature food composition values. The mean annual intakes of energy (5419 +/- 1081 vs. 4698 +/- 885 kJ), protein (31.8 +/- 7.0 vs. 24.1 +/- 6.8 g), Zn (7.4 +/- 1.9 vs. 5.1 +/- 1.1 mg) and phytate (1899 +/- 590 vs. 604 +/- 151 mg), and the mean molar ratios of [phytate]/[Zn] and [Ca] x [phytate]/[Zn] mmol per MJ (25 +/- 4 vs. 12 +/- 2 and 44 +/- 13 vs 20 +/- 8 mmol/MJ), were higher for Malawian than for Ghanaian children. More Malawian than Ghanaian children had [phytate]/[Zn] > or = 15 (72% vs. 0%) and were severely stunted (57 vs. 28%). Ninety-four percent of children in Malawi and 83% in the Ghanaian village of Slepor had low hair Zn concentrations (< 1.68 mumol/g) compared with 39% in Gidantuba, Ghana. In Gidantuba, children with low hair Zn concentrations had low upper-arm-muscle-area-for-age and upper-arm-muscle-area-for-height Z-scores. The high intakes of phytic acid relative to zinc in Malawi suggest that these children were at greater risk for inadequate zinc nutriture than their Ghanaian counterparts.

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The Ghana Demographic Health Survey indicates that the major nutritional challenges in Ghana among school children are protein-energy malnutrition and micro-nutrient deficiencies. School Feeding Programmes are one of the main interventions addressing malnutrition and its related effects on children's health and education. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of Ghana School Feeding Programme on nutritional status of school children in Atwima-Nwabiagya District of Ashanti Region, Ghana. A total of 234 pupils between 9 and 17 years of age, comprising 114 participants and 120 non-participants from three participating and three non-participating schools, respectively, with similar characteristics, took part in the study. It was hypothesized that the nutritional status of participants was better than that of non-participants. Results did not indicate any association between the school lunch and nutritional status. There was no statistically significant difference in the nutritional status of participants and non-participants. The programme did not impact the nutritional status of participants.