URINARY CALCIUM IN MOROCCAN SCHOOLCHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Background and objectives: Worldwide, deficiency in calcium increases the risk of developing diseases like osteoporosis and fracture risk at the later life. Depending on the World health organization reports, calcium deficiency is one of the most important deficiencies compared to other micronutrients deficiencies. In Morocco, data on calcium deficiency is limited because there are no specific studies in National level that identified the risks associated to this deficiency Thus; the aim of this study is to evaluate the nutritional profile of calcium in a representative sample of Moroccan children and adolescents. Methods: 131 children and adolescents aged between 6 and 18 years were recruited from public schools at Rabat and its regions in the framework of descriptive cross-sectional study. For each participant, socio-economic and morbidity status were assessed, and anthropometric parameters were measured. Calcium assessment was estimated through 24 hour urine measurements by ICP-MS. Results: The findings of this study showed that the mean of urinary calcium was 72.48mg/day. About 73% of children and adolescents present a urinary calcium deficiency. There were no significant differences related to sex towards calcium excretion and its correlation with nutritional status was shown negative. Conclusions: The present study show that children and adolescents in Rabat and regions present serious calcium deficiency. That leads us to reflect on the various tools needed to remedy this deficit and to response to objectives of the national strategy to combat micronutrient deficiencies.