Seasonal and Regional Variations in Nutrient Intakes of Korean Adolescents as Assessed as 3-Day Dietary Records

Hyun, Wha Jin; Lee, Joung Won

Abstract

Seasonal variations of nutrient intake ware evaluated through a 3-day dietary records in 196 Korean adolescents(86 males, 108 females) aged 13 - 15 years and living in urban and rural areas of Chungnam. The seasonal differences of nutrient intake were tested by repealed measure ANOVA. Comparing nutrient intakes among flour seasons using repealed measure ANOVA, mean values of daily intakes were higher in winter and autumn for most nutrients, and were the lowest in summer in the urban areas and in spring in rural areas. Girls recieved the largest amount of nutrients, except Ca and vitamin B/sub 12/, in winter and the lowest amount in summer, while in boys significant differences were not observed among the four seasons for meet nutrients, except fats, Mg, and vitamin E. Interestingly, the seasonal differences for many nutrients were more evident in rural areas than in urban areas. Vitamin A intake in urban areas was higher in winter and spring, while in rural oreas, in summer. Mean values of daily intakes as a percent of the RDA throughout the year in boys and girls ware 82.2% and 84.2% for energy and 88.9% and 82.7% for protein, respectively. Ca and vitamin A intakes were as low as 32.4% and 24.2% of the RDA in boys and 39.7% and 30.6% in girls. Intakes of Fe, Zn, folic acid and vitamin B/sub 12/ ranged from 40 - 60% of the RDA. The nutrients which showed the largest seasonal difference in the percent of RDA were vitamin E in boys and vitamin C, vitamin E, and Fe in girls. The index of nutritional quality(INQ) for Fe was significantly lower in autumn in both genders. The INQ for vitamin C in girls of both areas was much higher in winter. Annual mean adequacy ratio(MAR), an index of overall nutritional quality, ranged from 0.57 - 0.69, which was higher in winter than in other seasons. Conclusively, nutrient intakes of Korean adolescents showed seasonal variations, particularly in girls and in rural area. Thus, seasonal variations should be considered in the assessing nutritional status, particularly ill the rural areas of Korea.