An Analysis of Micronutrient Trace Elements in Children Dependent on Various Modes of Feedings

Micronutrient trace elements Zinc, Iron and Copper among 100 children's, dependent on various feeding methods, randomly selected from various parts of District Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. Out of 100 children, 64 were male and 36 were female. The serum Zinc, Iron and Copper contents among male children's were 65.38 ± 1.7 µg/dl, 64.69 ± 2.2 µg/dl and 113.35 ± 3.2 µg/dl and among female children were 59.09 ± 2.4 µg/dl, 54.23 ± 2.4 µg/dl and 123.23 ± 5.2 µg/dl respectively, showing significant differences (p<0.05) among serum Zinc and Iron levels, while non-significant differences among Serum Copper level. Among 100 subjects, seven (07) were on mixed pattern, twenty eight (28) were bottled fed and sixty five (65) were mother / breast fed. BMI were 16.38 ±0.8, 15.66 ±0.5 and 14.11 ± 0.4 in mixed, bottle fed and mother fed groups, showing significant difference from each other (p < 0.05). The serum Zinc, Iron and Copper levels in children dependent on mixed food were 56.33 ± 3.8 µg/dl, 55.60 ± 5.0 µg/dl and 81.61 ± 8.04 µg/dl, on bottle feeding were 60.57 ± 2.03 µg/dl, 58.86 ± 3.3 µg/dl and 112.99 ± 4.6 µg/dl, while on mother feed were 64.94 ± 3.8 µg/dl, 62.39 ± 2.2 µg/dl and 121.54 ± 3.8 µg/dl respectively, showing significant (<0.05) differences among groups. It is concluded that the higher concentration of Zinc, Iron and Copper were found among children who were fed on mother milk as compared to those who were fed either on mixed food or on bottles milk.