Appropriateness of Essentials Trace Metals in Commonly Consumed Infant Formulae in Nigeria

Zelinjo Nkeiruka Igweze; Osazuwa Clinton Ekhator; Ify Nwaogazie; Chiara Frazzoli; Orish Ebere Orisakwe

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.706

Appropriateness of Essentials Trace Metals in Commonly Consumed Infant Formulae in Nigeria

Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2019 Dec 11;7(23):4168-4175. doi: 10.3889/oamjms.2019.706. eCollection 2019 Dec 15.

Authors

Zelinjo Nkeiruka Igweze¹, Osazuwa Clinton Ekhator², Ify Nwaogazie³, Chiara Frazzoli⁴, Orish Ebere Orisakwe^{5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Madonna University Elele, Rivers State, Nigeria.
² Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin, Nigeria.
³ Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Port Harcourt, PMB, 5323 Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
⁴ Department for Cardiovascular, Dysmetabolic and Aging Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
⁵ Department of Experimental Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
⁶ World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence in Oilfield Chemicals Research, University of Port Harcourt, PMB, 5323 Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Background: Mothers who feed their children with infant food have increased have over the years leaving a large percentage of children who consume other types of liquid food for supplementation or as alternatives.

Aim: Determining the levels of essential trace metals in these formulae with the aim of ascertain their appropriateness is considered important.

Methods: Iron, zinc, manganese, chromium and cobalt in 26 infant formulae purchased from Port Harcourt city, Nigeria were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. The estimated daily intake EDI and percentage of EDI to the recommended daily allowance of these essential trace metals were used in the exposure assessment.

Results: The highest mean concentration of Mn, Cr and Co was found in the milk based (0.15 ± 0.09 mg/kg), (0.61 ± 0.70 mg/kg), (0.12 ± 0.32 mg/kg) compared to the cereal based and cereal mix based but the differences was also not significant. The EDI of chromium in the infant formulae exceeded the RDA.

Conclusion: Infant formulae may add to the chromium body burden of infants in Nigeria.

Keywords: Essential trace metals; Health risk assessment; Infant formulae; Public health.