Evaluation of some essential and trace elements in diets from 3 nurseries from Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil, by neutron activation analysis

A study was made in diets offered to a group of pre-school children, whose mean age was 67 months and remained the whole day in three day care centers from Juiz de Fora, M.G., Brazil. For sampling, the duplicate portion techn ique was used, and the diets were collected and analyzed separately each da y in the 3 nurseries. Instrumental neutron activation analysis was applied to the determination of 16 elements. The daily dietary intake values were c ompared to the RDA (children 4-6 years old). Based on this reference, Ca, F e, Se and Zn were found to be deficient, Mg and Mn were comparable to the R DA and the Cl and Na concentrations were higher compared to their RDA. For the other elements measured, there are no RDA's for children.