Food intake survey of kindergarten children in Korea: Part 1 food, energy, and nutrient intake

Abstract

Objectives Nutrient intakes of children were surveyed at the time when a nation-wide shift took place in the Republic of Korea from agriculture-based to industrialized society. Taking advantage of the survey locations (see below), possible delay in nutritional improvement in rural areas (as compared with that in an urban area) was also examined. Methods In total, 108 4-to 6-year-old children (boys and girls in combination) in 4 kindergartens (KGs; 1 in Seoul and 3 in Jeju Island) participated in the survey in 2003-2004. 24-h food duplicate samples were prepared by the mother of each child. Food items in each duplicate sample were separated and coded with reference to the Dietary Reference Intake for Koreans (the 2005 version). Nutrient intake of the day was estimated from the code and weight followed by summation for daily intake. Results The children in the KG in Seoul studied were younger, and therefore were smaller in body size than those in other KGs. Thus, it was considered necessary to evaluate nutrient intake not only on a daily basis, but after adjustment for body weight. The AM daily intake of energy (protein in parenthesis) for the 108 children was 1479 kcal (55 g)/day or 69.8 kcal (2.6 g)/kg body weight/day. Evaluation by individual nutrient suggested that the intake was sufficient for almost all nutrients except for sodium and potassium. Sodium and potassium intake (2285 and 1840 mg/day, respectively) was in excess and insufficient, respectively, with potential risk of inducing hypertension later in life. Conclusions Inter-KG difference was not remarkable and therefore urban-rural difference was not apparent. Nutrient intakes as a whole appeared to be sufficient urban and rural areas. Nevertheless, excess Na intake coupled with insufficient K intake was a common problem.