Comparison of Nutrient Intakes between Korean and United States Adults

Chung, Chin Eun; Lee, Jung Sug

Abstract

Dietary Variety Score (DVS) or Nutrient Adequacy Ratio (NAR) offers a way of comparing eating habits across populations and across countries. This study compared nutrients intakes, food intakes, DVS, and NAR between Korean and US adults using the large national survey data. 4662 Korean adults (men: 2201, women: 2461) aged 20 - 49 years were selected from the 'Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey, 2001' and 4199 US adults (men: 2127, women: 2072) aged 20 - 49 years were selected from the 'US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES IV, 1999 - 2002)'. The total plant food intakes were high in Korean adults, but the total animal food intakes were high in US adults. Intakes of legumes and nuts, vegetables and mushrooms were higher in Korean than in US adults. On the other hand, intakes of meats, milk and dairy products of US adults were higher than Korean. Beverage intakes were 8 - 10 times higher in US adults than in Korean. The mean DVS of Korean men and women were higher than US men and women. Intakes of fat, calcium and vitamin B2 of US adults were 1.5 - 2 times higher than those of Korean, which could probably related to larger consumption by US adults on milk and dairy product. While the intakes of carbohydrate and vitamin C of the Korean were higher than the US adults, which could presumably related to higher grain and vegetable consumption. Percent energy intakes from carbohydrate, protein, and fat were 64.1%, 15.8%, and 20.1% for Korean men, 52.4%, 15.0%, and 32.6% for US men, 65.9%, 14.9%, 19.2% for Korean women, and 52.1%, 14.7%, 33.2% for US women respectively, which showed higher %energy from carbohydrate in Korean and higher %energy from fat in US adults. Most nutrient intakes except energy and vitamin C expressed as %RDA were higher in US than in Korean adults. Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR) of US men and Korean men were both 0.85, while the MAR was 0.81 for Korean women, 0.79 for US women. The Korean women's diet showed more diverse and adequate than the US women's diet.