A Study on the Food Habit and Seasonal Difference of Nutrient Intake of Adult Working Women

Lim, Hwa Jae

Abstract

To assess the food habits and the seasonal differnces of nutrient intakes and diet qualities of adult working women aged 30 - 49y in Busan, dietary survey was conducted in summer and in winter by a questionnaire and two-day food record. Anthropometric assessment was also investigated in two seasons. 91.8% of those skipped breakfast in the main. 44.3% had irregular meals. The mean daily energy intake was 1725.8 kcal with 63.3% of energy intake being supplied by carbohydrates, 14.7% by protein, 22.3% by fat in summer and 1598.4 kcal with 62.1% of energy intake being supplied by carbohydrates, 15.6% by protein, 22.1% by fat in winter. Over 70% of iron intake came from plant origin in two seasons. The mean intakes of energy, calcium, iron and vitamin A in summer and energy, calcium, iron, vitamin A and vitamin B2 in winter were below Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for Koreans. As well as insufficiency in iron, the bioavailability of iron is considered to have been low because most of iron intake came from plant origin in two seasons. For calcium and iron in summer and calcium, iron, vitamin A and vitamin B2 in winter, proportions of subjects with intake levels less than 75% of RDA were over 40% in summer and over 50% in winter, respectively. The nutrient adequacy ratios (NAR) were below 0.75 for calcium and iron in summer and calcium, iron, vitamin A and vitamin B2 in winter. NARs of iron (p < 0.05), vitamin A (p < 0.01) and vitamin B2 (p < 0.001) in winter were significantly lower than those in summer. The mean adequacy ratios (MAR), an index of overall dietary quality were 0.85 in summer and 0.80 in winter. The MAR in winter was significantly lower than that in summer (p < 0.05). The indexes of nutritional quality (INQ) were below 1 for calcium and iron in summer and calcium, iron, vitamin A and vitamin B2 in winter. The intake (p < 0.05) and NAR (p < 0.05) of vitamin B2 showed positive significant correlations with height in winter. In conclusion, nutrient intake and diet quality of adult working women were different between the summer and the winter. So nutritional education programs for summer and winter are needed for adult working women.