Positive Changes in Blood Lipid Profiles, Nutrition Knowledge, and Dietary Taurine Intake After 8-Week Nutrition Education Program in Low-Income Korean Children

Abstract

Taurine has been reported to play a key role in the growth and development of children’s brains and nerves. Incorrect dietary habits and unbalanced nutrient intakes may be caused by socio-environmental and economic factors in low-income children. This study was conducted to investigate changes in blood lipid profiles, nutrition knowledge, dietary attitudes, and intakes of dietary taurine and nutrients after an 8-week nutrition education program (NEP) in low-income Korean children. In this intervention study, nutrition education, exercise, and nutrition counseling were conducted for 8-weeks in 22 low-income children (11–13 years old, 9 males and 13 females) at community child center located in Incheon, Korea. Changes after the NEP were evaluated using a one group pretest-posttest design. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 20.0. After the 8-week NEP, there was a significant decrease in the blood triglyceride level of female students (p < 0.01). As for nutrition knowledge, there were significant increases in the subscore of sugars and sodium in foods consumed by male students (p < 0.05), total score of nutrition knowledge (p < 0.01), subscore of sugars and sodium in foods (p < 0.01), and fat content of foods and adequate dietary intake in female students (p < 0.05). Dietary attitudes did not change. There were significant increases in intakes of dietary taurine, vitamin B6 (p < 0.01), and dietary fiber (p < 0.05) in female students after the NEP. There were significantly positive correlations between changes in dietary taurine intake and dietary attitudes as well as between changes in carbohydrate intake and total cholesterol level among all the subjects. Therefore, nutrition education to promote balanced nutrient intake and dietary attitudes for optimal growth and development of low-income children is needed.