Table 2 Distribution of median (IQR) LC-PUFA levels (% wt/wt) by gender and age group of 297 Zimbabwean children

Median (IQR) (n = 297)

0.18 (0.15–0.23)

0.79 (0.70-0.89)

2.14 (1.87-2.42)

10.62 (9.77–11.38)

3.13 (2.83–3.49)

18.42 (17.10–19.92)

57.47 (44.72–72.24)

10.82 (9.83–11.79)

Mean (SD) (n = 297)

0.20 (0.071)

0.81 (0.17)

2.15 (0.40)

10.56 (1.26)

3.55 (0.53)

18.11 (2.27)

61.31 (23.64)

10.91 (1.62)

Range All (n = 297)

0.06–0.55

0.38–0.198

1.13–3.52

5.58–14.64

1.73–5.95

13.34–28.11

15.47–163-33

5.94–16.03

Children’s gender median IQR)

Boys (n = 127)

0.19 (0.15–0.23)

0.81 (0.72–0.91)

2.11 (1.91–2.46)

10.55 (9.80–11.32)

3.25 (2.62–3.42)

18.38 (17.32–19.94)

57.16 (45.24–71.82)

10.71 (9.78–11.68)

Girls (n = 170)

0.18 (0.15–0.24)

0.78 (0.70–0.89)

2.15 (1.84–2.36)

10.67 (9.73–11.46)

3.10 (2.82–3.47)

18.44 (16.94–19.89)

57.72 (44.09–72.91)

10.95 (9.88–11.97)

Children’s Age group median (IQR)

(7) (n = 21)

0.17 (0.13–0.18)

0.78 (0.74–0.86)

2.27 (2.03–2.48)

10.89 (10.68–11.75)

3.18 (2.92–3.53)

18.20 (16.69–19.52)

64.38 (59.71–91.04)

10.60 (9.93–11.89)

(8) (n = 93)

0.20 (0.16–0.24)

0.81 (0.70–0.93)

2.16 (1.93–2.51)

10.63 (9.61–11.39)

3.18 (2.87–3.57)

18.64 (17.35–20.18)

56.43 (41.39–72.02)

10.55 (9.68–11.45)

(9) (n = 183)

0.18 (0.15–0.23)

0.79 (0.70–0.89)

2.10 (1.83–2.35)

10.48 (9.76–11.35)

3.09 (2.80–3.40)

18.34 (16.94–19.88)

55.87 (44.90–70.64)

10.94 (9.87-12.01)

p-values

P = 0 .049^a

P = .014^a