Knowledge of micronutrients

Results of a representative inquiry of students in Saxony-Anhalt

A. Köhn, S. Pötzsch, J. Hoyer-Schuschke, Magdeburg

An inquiry of 4332 students attending classes 10 to13 of secondary and grammar schools in the federal state Saxony-Anhalt has shown that only few of them have a good knowledge of vitamins, minerals and the importance of these.

A relatively large proportion of the respondents know the names of some important vitamins and minerals, but were ignorant of the significance of these for the human organism. About half of the girls and boys assumed to know the importance of vitamins, but only 3 % of the respondents were able to properly assign three vitamin functions. 62.5 % failed to correctly answer the question about the importance of vitamins.

As far as minerals are concerned, one third of the respondents assumed to know the function of individual minerals, while correct answers were only obtained from 6.1 %. 68.7 % were unable to correctly answer the question about the significance of minerals.

As the students were in principle interested in nutritional subjects, the present study again underlines the need for nutritional education at schools.

Key words: Micronutrients / knowledge / representative inquiry / students / Saxony-Anhalt

Sie finden den Artikel in deutscher Sprache in Ernährungs-Umschau 04/06 ab Seite 130.