ABSTRACT

 Iron status, body composition, energy/nutrient Intake and energy expenditure of 11 female students in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike were determined The age of the female students ranged from 16 to 30 years. They were grouped Into two groups of 16 - 19 years for adolescents and 20-30 years for young adults. Assessment was based on a 3-day food intake diary for nutrient Intake and a 3-day energy expenditure diary for energy expenditure. Body composition was assessed using anthropometry and iron status was assessed using acid hematin measurement or haemoglobin. The study revealed that the mean energy expenditure value for the adolescents was 2229.15 ± 254.39 and that of the young adults 2272.26 ± 353.11, showing that there is no significant difference between the energy expenditure of the young adults and the adolescents. The mean intake value for the adolescents was 221 7.41 ± 236.48 while that of the young adults was 2444.89 ± 359. 47, thus the subjects met their recommended daily allowances with these values. The mean height values were 163.80 ± 3.71 for adolescents and 163.61 ± 3.87 for the young adults and the mean weight values were 57.40 ± 5.94 for adolescents and 55.34 ± 8.48 for the young adults showing that the Ideal weight for height for both the adolescents and the young adults was according to standard. The other onthropometric parameters determined included lean body mass, body water and skinfold thickness, which showed no significant differences when those of the young actuates were compared to that of the adolescents as values were all below the critical (z) value of 1.65 at 95 % degree of freedom. The mean value of the Iron status using acid hematin was 11.30 ± 0.95 and this implies that 72% of the subjects do not meet up to the adequate Iron status which Is between 12.0 - 16.0 g /dl for the adolescents and adults which Implies that the iron content of the body of the students is inadequate.