ASSESSMENT OF THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS, FOOD CONSUMPTION PATTERN AND SHORT CHAIN FATTY ACIDS AMONG ADOLESCENT SCHOOL GIRLS IN IGABI LGA, KADUNA STATE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2026-1004-4827Keywords:
Socio-demographic, dietary diversity, food frequency, Association, Food consumptionAbstract
Proper nutrition practice is critical during adolescence since it is the second opportunity to catch up growth, and have a strong effect on lifetime nutritional status and health of the adolescent. This study was to assess the nutritional status, food consumption pattern, and short chain fatty acids among adolescent school girls in Igabi LGA, Kaduna State, Nigeria. A cross‑sectional study was conducted among 229 adolescent girls (mean age ≈ 15 years) attending public (n = 126) and private (n = 103) secondary schools in Nigeria. The study revealed that private‑school participants were slightly older (15.8 ± 1.7 vs 15.4 ± 1.9 years), more likely to be Hausa (55% vs 63% public), and came from households with higher parental education (49 % vs 24 % tertiary) and lower family‑size extremes. Finding of this study using (what method/technique/approach?) showed a higher prevalence of stunting (32% vs 19%) and underweight (28% vs 15%) in public schools, while overweight (12% vs 10%) and obesity (5% vs 8%) were comparable. Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) demonstrated significantly lower concentrations in public schools (acetate 120.5 ± 20.5 µmol/g, propionate 30.2 ± 5.5 µmol/g, butyrate 20.1 ± 4.2 µmol/g) compared to private schools (150.8 ± 25.1, 40.5 ± 6.8, 28.5 ± 5.1 µmol/g). The relationship linked higher SCFA‑producing bacteria to greater dietary diversity, nutritional status and better socio-demographic characteristics (p < 0.05). These findings underscore that socioeconomic advantage, nutritional status, food‑consumption pattern, and dietary diversity co‑vary with a SCFAs profile, suggesting that integrated school‑based nutrition and counselling interventions could narrow the health gap between public and private school adolescents in Nigeria.
References
Amosu, A. M., Degun, A. M., Atulomah, O. S. and Olanrewaju, M. F. (2011). A Study of the Nutritional Status of Under-5 Children of Low-Income Earners in a south-Western Nigeria Community Current Research. (Journal of Biological Science) ;3(6):578-585.
Al-Muammar, M. N. El-Shafie, M. and Feroze, S. (2014). Association between dietary habits and body mass index of adolescent females in intermediate schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. East Mediterranean Health Journal. 2014;20(1):39– 45. [PubMed: 24932932].
Ayranci, U. Erenoglu, N. and Son, O. (2010). Eating habits, lifestyle factors, and body weight status among Turkish private educational institution students. Nutrition. 2010;26(7-8):772–8. doi: 10.1016/journal of nutrition; .2009.07.007
Adesina, A. F. Peterside, O. Anochie, I. and Akani, N. A. (2012). Weight status of adolescents in secondary schools in port Harcourt using Body Mass Index (BMI). Italian Journal of Pediatrics. 2012;38:31. doi: 10.1186/1824-7288-38-31.
Adamu, A. Adjei, G. and Kubuga, C. (2012). Effects of dietary patterns on the nutritional status of upper primary school children in Tamale metropolis. 2012. 44(1):48.
Arage, G. Assefa, M. and Worku, T. (2019). Socio-demographic and economic factors are associated with nutritional status of adolescent school girls in Lay Guyint Woreda, Northwest Ethiopia. SAGE Open Med 2019;7: 2050312119844679.
Bervoets, L., Van Hoorenbeeck, K. and Kortleven, I. (2013). “Differences in gut microbiota composition between obese and lean children: a cross-sectional study,” Gut Pathogens, volume 5, number. 1, 10 pages.
Berhe, K. and Gebremariam, G. (2020). Magnitude and associated factors of undernutrition (underweight and stunting) among school adolescent girls in Hawzen Woreda (District), Tigray regional state, Northern Ethiopia: Cross sectional study. Research Notes 2020;13(1):59.
Berry, E. M. Dernini, S. Burlingame, B. Meybeck, A. and Conforti, P. (2015). Food security and sustainability: can one exist without the other? Public Health Nutrition. 18, 2293–2302.
Birru, S. M. Tariku, A. and Belew, A. K. (2017). Improved dietary diversity of school adolescent girls in the context of urban Northwest Ethiopia: Italian Journal of Pediatrics; 2018; 44(1):48.
Bawadi, H. A. Tayyem, R. F. Dwairy, A. N. and Al-akour, N. (2012). Prevalence of Food Insecurity among Women in Northern Jordan Prevalence of Food Insecurity among Women in Northern Jordan. Journal. Health Population Nutrition. 2012, 30, 49–55.
Caballero, B., Allen, L. and Prentice, A. (2005). Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition. 2nd ed. Oxford: Elsevier Academic Press.
Carvalho, Francescantonio, Menezes, I, H, Borges, Neutzling, M, Aguiar, Carrazedo, and Taddei, J, A., (2009). Risk factors for overweight and obesity in adolescents of a Brazilian University: a case-control study. Nutrition of Hospitality. 2009;24(1):17–24.[Public Medical: 19266108].
Chan, Y. K. Estaki, M. and Gibson, D. L. (2013). Clinical consequences of diet-induced dysbiosis. Annual Nutrition Metabolism. 2013; 63: 28-40.
Danjuma, S. Uba, M. d. Rabiul, I. Imdadul, H. Alauddin, C. Sheikh, M. Shariful, I. and Faisal, M. (2020). Nutritional Status of Adolescent Girls in a Selected Secondary School of North-Eastern Part of Nigeria. Middle East Journal of Rehabilitation of Health Studies. 2020 October; 7(4):e104331
Deshmukh, P. R., Gupta, S. S., Bharambe, M. S., Dongre, A. R., Maliye, C. and Kaur, S. (2006). Nutritional status of adolescents in rural Ward. Indian Journal of Pediatrics.;73(2):139–41.doi: 10.1007/BF02820204.[PubMed: 16514223].
Demilew, Y.M. and Emiru, A. A. (2018). Under nutrition and associated factors among school adolescents in Dangila Town, Northwest Ethiopia: A cross sectional study. African Health Science. 2018, 18, 756–766.
De-Philippi, S. T. and Leme, A. C. B. (2016). “Dietary intake and meal frequency of Brazilian girls attending a school-based randomized controlled trial,” Nutrition & Food Science, vol. 45, no. 6, pp. 954–968.
Den-Besten, G. Van-Eunen, K. Groen, A. K. Venema, K. Reijngoud, D. J. and Bakker, B. M. (2013). The role of short-chain fatty acids in the interplay between diet, gut microbiota, and host energy metabolism. Journal Lipid Research; 54: 2325–2340.
Erinosho, T. O. Moser, R. P. Oh, A. Y. Nebeling, L. C. and Yaroch, A. L. (2012). Awareness of the Fruits and Veggies-More Matters campaign, knowledge of the fruit and vegetable recommendation, and fruit and vegetable intake of adults in the 2007 Food Attitudes and Behaviors (FAB) Survey. Appetite. 2012;59(1):155–60. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2012.04.010.
Ene-Obong, H., Ibeanu, V., Onuoha, N. and Ejekwu, A. (2012). Prevalence of overweight, obesity, and thinness among urban school-aged children and adolescents in southern Nigeria. Food Nutrition Bulletin.;33(4):242–50.doi: 10.1177/156482651203300404.[ Public Medical: 23424890].
Gagebo, D. D. Kerbo, A. A. and Thangavel, T. (2020). Undernutrition and Associated Factors among Adolescent Girls in Damot Sore District, Southern Ethiopia. Journal of Nutrition Metabolism; 2020; 2020:5083140.
Gebremariam, H. Seid, O. and Assefa, H. (2015). Assessment of nutritional status and associated factors among school going adolescents of Mekelle City, Northern Ethiopia. International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences; 2015;4(1):118–124
Gebregyorgis, T. Tadesse, T. and Atenafu, A. (2016). Prevalence of thinness and stunting and associated factors among adolescent schoolgirls in Adwa Town, North Ethiopia. International Journal of Food Sciences. 2016; 2016: 8323982.
Goffredo, M. Mass, K. Parks, E. Wagner, D. McClure, E. Graf, J. Savoye, M. Pierpont, B.Cline, G. and Santoro, N. (2016). Role of Gut Microbiota and Short Chain Fatty Acids in Modulating Energy Harvest and Fat Partitioning in Youth. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology Metabolism. 2016, 101, 4367–4376
Getachew, A. Mekonnen, A. and Teshager, W. (2019). Socio-demographic and economic factors are associated with nutritional status of adolescent school girls in Lay Guyint Woreda, Northwest Ethiopia. SAGE Open Medicine. 2019 Apr 16;7:2050312119844679.doi: 10.1177/2050312119844679
Glewwe, P., & Kremer, M. (2006). Schools, teachers, and education outcomes in developing countries. Handbook of the Economics of Education, 2, 945-1017.
Holzer, F. Reichmann, and A. Farzi, P. (2012). “Neuropeptide Y, peptide YY and pancreatic polypeptide in the gut-brain axis,” Neuropeptides, vol. 46, no. 6, pp. 261–274.
Kumar, A. (2018). Nutritional status of adolescent girls in rural Tamilnadu. National Journal of Research of Community Medicine. 2012;1(1):1–60.
Kahssay, M. Mohamed, L. and Gebre, A. (2020). Nutritional status of school going adolescent girls in Awash Town, Afar Region, Ethiopia. Journal of Environmental Public Health; 2020:7367139.
Hossain, G. Sarwar, M. T. and Rahman, M. H. (2013). A study on the nutritional status of the adolescent girls at Khagrachhari district in Chittagong hill tracts, Bangladesh. American Journal of Life Sciences. 2013; 1(6): 278–282.
Kaplan, L. S., & Owings, W. A. (2013). School finance and school improvement: Linking policy and practice. Educational Considerations, 40(2), 2-10.
Lee, R. (2003). The demographic transition: three centuries of fundamental change. Journal of Economics and Perspectives. 2003; 17(4): 167–190.
Lob-Corzilius, T. (2007). Overweight and obesity in childhood–a special challenge for public health. International Journal of Hygiene Environment Health. 210(5): 585–9.doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2007.07.019.[ Public Medicine: 17889606].
Łoniewska, B., Fraszczyk-Tousty, M., Tousty, P., Skonieczna-˙Zydecka, K., Maciejewska-Markiewicz, D. and Łoniewski, I. (2023). Analysis of Fecal Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) in Healthy Children during the First Two Years of Life: An Observational Prospective Cohort Study. Nutrients 2023, 15, 367. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/nu15020367
Meseret, Y. (2008). Anthropometric assessment of adolescent malnutrition in elementary and secondary schools of Ambo town [Thesis]. West hewa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia: Addis Ababa University;
Murugesan, M. Ulloa-Martínez, H. and Martínez-Rojano, T. (2015). “Study of the diversity and short-chain fatty acids production by the bacterial community in overweight and obese Mexican children,” European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, vol. 34, no. 7, pp. 1337–1346.
Mahmoud, M. H. and Taha, A. S. (2017). The association between eating habits and body mass index among nursing students. Journal of Nursing Health Science. 2017;6(3):14–26. doi: 10.9790/1959-0603061426.
Madaki, C. D. and Salisu, M. A. (2023). Assessment of Dietary Pattern and Nutritional Status of Adolescents in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria. Dutse Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, Volume 9, number 40. December, 2023, https//dx.doi.org/10.4314/dujopas.v9i40.6.
Mahmoud, M. H. and Taha, A. S. (2017). The association between eating habits and body mass index among nursing students. Journal of Nursing Health Science. 2017;6(3):14–26. doi: 10.9790/1959-0603061426.
Molarius, A. Seidell, J. C. Sans, S. Tuomilehto, J. and Kuulasmaa, K. (2000). Educational level, relative body weight, and changes in their association over 10 years: an international perspective from the WHO MONICA Project. American Journal of Public Health. 2000;90(8):1260–8. doi: 10.2105/ajph.90.8.1260.
Musa, D. I. Toriola, A. L. and Monyeki, M. A. (2012). Prevalence of childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity in Benue State, Nigeria. Tropical Medicine and International Health 2012; 17(11): 1369–1375.
Malinowska, A. Majcher, M. Hooiveld, G. Przydatek, H. Szaban, M. Kurowiecka, A. and Schmidt, M. (2023). Experimental Capacity of Human Fecal Microbiota to Degrade Fiber and Produce Short-Chain Fatty Acids Is Associated with Diet Quality and Anthropometric Parameters. Journal of Nutrition.. 2023, 153, 2827–2841.
Mulugeta, A. Hagos, F. and Stoecker, B. (2009). Nutritional status of adolescent girls from rural communities of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Ethiopian Journal of Health Development; 2009;23(1):5–11.
Narcisse, J. Kalidasan, V. Nurul, A. S. Barakatun, N. M. Y. Suresh, K. c. and Syafinaz, A. N. (2019). Gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) profiles of normal and overweight school children in Selangor after probiotics administration. Journal of Functional Foods 57 (2019) 103–111
NFCMS. (2021). National food consumption and micronutrient survey, Published by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan, Nigeria. Final Report December 2023.
Omobuwa, O., Alebiosu, C. O., Olajide, F. O. and Adebimpe, W. O. (2014). Assessment of znutritional status of in-school adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria. South African Family Practice, 56:4, 246-250, DOI: 10.1080/20786190.2014.953891
Obeyera, K. C. Ahmed, F. F. and Shehu, U. A. (2023). Examination of Association between Food Security and Nutritional Status of Children among Selected Households in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State.; Journal of Arid Zone Economy 1(1): (2023) 39 – 54
Ostrowska, J. Samborowska, E. Jaworski, M. Toczyłowska, K. and Szostak-Węgierek, D. (2024). The Potential Role of SCFAs in Modulating Cardiometabolic Risk by Interacting with Adiposity Parameters and Diet. Nutrients 2024, 16, 266.
Priyadarshini, M. Thomas, A. Alexandra, A. Scholtens, D. Wolever, T. Josefson, A.and Layden, B.T. (2014). Maternal short-chain fatty acids are associated with metabolic parameters in mothers and newborns. Transl. Res. 2014, 164, 153–157.
Paul, A. Chinedu, N. Chinaza, U. Olachi, D. Emmanuel, A. Eucheria, I. (2023). Household Food Insecurity and Nutritional Status of Female Adolescents in Ikwuano South-East, Nigeria, Post COVID-19.; Vol 10, No 1, Jan-Mar 2023, pages: 1-10
Partridge, S. R., Sim, K. A., Armaghanian, N., Steinbeck, K.S. and Cheng, H. L. (2022). Adolescence and young adulthood: an untapped window of opportunity for obesity prevention. Public Health Research and Practice, 32(3),121-5.
Ringel-Kulka, T. Cheng, J. Ringel, Y. Salojärvi, J. Carroll, I. and Palva, A. (2013). Intestinal microbiota in healthy U.S. young children and adults--a high throughput microarray analysis. 2013;8(5):e64315.
Ruel, M. T. (2003). Is dietary diversity an indicator of food security or dietary quality? A review of measurement issues and research needs. Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 24(2), 231-244.
Ryodai, Y., Koshi, N., Naoya, K., Tomoyasu, A., Yu, S., Kiminori, N., Tokiyoshi, A., Takashi, K. and Akiko, T. (2020). Associations of gut microbiota, dietary intake, and serum short-chain fatty acids with fecal short-chain fatty acids: 2019 Oct 5. doi: 10.12938/bmfh.19-010; 2020; 39(1): 11–17.
Stang, J. and Mt, S. (2005). Guidelines for Adolescent Nutrition Services. Minneapolis, MN: Center for Leadership, Education and Training in Maternal and Child Nutrition (2005).p.1–8.
Stice, E., Presne, l. l. K., Shaw, H. and Rohde, P. (2005). Psychological and behavioral risk factors for obesity on set in adolescent girls: a prospective study. Journal of Consultant Clinic Psychology. 2005;73(2):195–202. doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.73.2.195. [Public Medical: 15796626].
Stray-Pedersen, M., Helsing, R. M., Gibbons, L., Cormick, G., Holmen, T. L. and Vik, T. (2009). Weight status and hypertension among adolescent girls in Argentina and Norway: data from the ENNyS and HUNT studies. Bio-Medical Center of Public Health. 2009;9:398. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-9-398. [Public Medical: 19878550].[ Public Medical Central l: PMC2775744].
Schwiertz, A., Taras, D., Schäfer, K., Beijer, S., Bos, N. A., Donus, C. and Hardt, P. D. (2010). Microbiota and SCFA in lean and overweight healthy subjects. Obesity (Silver Spring) 18: 190–195.
Story, M., Kaphingst, K. M., Robinson-O'Brien, R., & Glanz, K. (2008). Creating healthy food and eating environments: policy and environmental approaches. Annual Review of Public Health, 29, 253-272.
Szczuko, M. Kikut, J. Maciejewska, D. Kulpa, D. Celewicz, Z. and Ziętek, M. (2020). The Associations of SCFA with Anthropometric Parameters and Carbohydrate Metabolism in Pregnant Women. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020, 21, 9212.
Scott, K. P. Gratz, S. W. Sheridan, P. O. Flint, H. J. and Duncan, S. (2013). H. The influence of diet on the gut microbiota. Pharmacology Research. 2013; 69: 52-60.
Teixeira, T. F. S., Grezsékowiak, L. M., Salminen, S., Laitinen, K., Bressan, J. and MCG, P. (2013). “Faecal levels of Bifidobacterium and Clostridium coccoides but not plasma lipopolysaccharide are inversely related to insulin and HOMA index in women,” Clinical Nutrition, volume. 32, number. 6, page. 1017–1022.
Takashi, O., Yi, H., Ayane, K., Yuki, N., Miyuki, M., Satoru, M. and Hiroshi, M. (2024). Development of an high performance liquid chromatography method using relative molar sensitivity for the measurement of blood concentrations of nine pharmaceutical compounds. J Pharm Health Care Sci. 2024 Jul 5;10:35. doi: 10.1186/s40780-024-00358-6
Talaie-Zanjani, A. Faraji, F. and Rafie, M. (2014). A comparative study of nutritional status and foodstuffs in adolescent girls in Iran. Annual Medical Health Science Research; 2014; 4(1):28–43.
USAID. (2018). Adolescent Nutrition 2000-2017: Demographic Health Survey Data on Adolescents Age 15-19. Rockville,: Infant and Child Feeding.
UNICEF. (2013). Children and the Millennium Development Goals; Progress towards a World Fit for Children. (United Nations’ Children’s Fund);
Visscher, T. L. and Seidell, J. C. (2001). The public health impact of obesity. Annual Review of Public Health.22:355-75. doi: 10.1146/ Annual Review of Public Health.22.1.355.
WHO. (2018). Guideline: Implementing Effective Actions for Improving Adolescent Nutrition. Geneva: World Health Organization.
WHO. (2002). Reducing Risks, Promoting Healthy Life. Geneva: World Health Organizatio).
WHO. (2000). World Health Organisation. The Management of Nutrition in Major Emergencies. Geneva: World Health Organization
Waweru, W. and Marete, O. (2016). Estimation of relationship between eating habits and body mass index of students in Mount Kenya University, Rwanda. International Journal of Community Medicine Public Health. 2016;3(8):2344–54. doi: 10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20162596.
Worku, F. Segni, M. and Yeshimebet, D. (2024). Validation of food frequency questionnaire for food intake of adults in Gida, West, Ethiopia. Volume 12 – 2024. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh, 2024.1438008
Wassie, M. M. Gete, A. A. and Yesuf, M. E. (2015). Predictors of nutritional status of Ethiopian adolescent girls: A community based cross sectional study. Nutrition; 2015;1(1):1–7.
Wu, G.D. Chen, J. Hoffmann, C. Bittinger, K. Chen, Y. Y. Keilbaugh, S. A. Bewtra, M. Knights, D. Walters, W. A. Knight, R. Sinha, R. Gilroy, E. Gupta, K. Baldassano, R. Nessel, L. Li. H. Bushman, F. D. and Lewis, J. D. (2011). Linking long-term dietary patterns with gut microbial enterotypes. Science 2011; 334: 105-108.
Yemaneh, Y. Girma, A. and Nigussie, W. (2012). Under nutrition and its associated factors among adolescent girls in rural community of Aseko district, Eastern Arsi Zone, Oromia region, Eastern Ethiopia. Italian Journal of Pediatrics; 2012; p:2.
Zhang, C., Zhang, M., Wang, S., Han, R., Cao, Y. and Hua, W. (2023). Interactions between gut microbiota, host genetics and diet relevant to development of metabolic syndromes in mice. International Society for Microbial Ecology Journal;4:232–41.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Haruna Abdullahi, Uche Samuel Ndidi, Balarabe Sallau Abdullahi, Ibrahim Sani
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
