The Daily Intakes of Nutrients and Snacks of High School Smokers and Non-Smokers

Song, Young Mi; Han, Jang Il; Kim, Seong Ai

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship of smoking on daily intake of nutrients and snacks in the Chungnam and Daejeon high school students. Up to date scientific nutrition education and counseling programs in the regular school system is needed for a professional nutrition education teacher. The primary objective of this study was to provide useful information to nutrition education teachers. A survey was conducted with 400 high school students in the Chungnam and Daejeon areas. 381 out of 400 questionnaires were analyzed with SPSS 12.0K. The subjects were composed of 49.8% male, 50.1% female and 40.9% regular high school students, 59.1% business high school students and smokers 43.1%, non-smokers 56.9%. 43.4% of smokers had been smoking since middle school. On analysis of daily nutrient intakes, 16 out of 19 nutrients except animal calcium, Vitamin A and Vitamin C were much more consumed by the smoking group than the non-smoking group non-significantly. Especially vegetable fat and Vitamin E were higher in the smoking group than the non-smoking group(p < 0.05). The intake ratio of carbohydrates: protein: fat was similar in the two groups (smoking group 55 : 15 : 29, nonsmoking group 56 : 15 : 28). Intakes of Vitamin B1 and potassium in comparison with the Korean dietary reference intakes (KDRI) were under 50% in both groups. However, sodium was taken over 200% compared to KDRI in both groups. Intakes of Vitamin C in the smoking group were as low as 76.5% in comparison to KDRI. Smokers need to increase the intakes of Vitamin C considering that smokers need to intake Vitamin C two times than non-smokers. Nutrient intakes from snacks in the smoking group were higher than the non-smoking group. Nutrients that originated from snacks which took over 20% among daily nutrient intakes were 12 nutrients (energy, fat, carbohydrate, calcium, P, Fe, K, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, dietary fiber) in the smoking group compared to 7 nutrients (energy, vegetable protein, fat, carbohydrate, calcium, Vitamin B2, Vitamin C) in the non-smoking group. The smoking group was significantly paying more money for snacks each month than the non-smoking group was (p < 0.01). Periods of consumption were irregular in the smoking group(p < 0.05) and the smoking group was used to taking snacks in the morning compared to the non-smoking group. The smoking group preferred sweets and high calorie food over other snacks in comparison of the non-smoking group. The nonsmoking group had better eating habits than the smoking group