Nutrient intakes of urban dwellers in Lagos, Nigeria.

I . The nutrient contents of diets consumed by families in the lower income groups in Lagos are compared with published values for diets consumed by Nigerians in rural areas. 2. Qualitatively, the dietary patterns of urban dwellers tended to resemble those of the regions from which they had migrated; attention is drawn to certain exceptions. 3. Quantitatively, urban diets resembled those in rural areas in (a) providing a lower proportion, in relation to requirements, of calories rather than of protein; and (b ) allowing children lower intakes of all nutrients, in relation to requirements, than adults. 4. Restriction of calorie intake resulted in diversion of dietary protein to energy production, and this in turn led to low mean body-weights of children and of adults.