Dietary patterns, iron nutritional status and physical growth of elementary school children living in a remote rural country in Korea
Kim, S.H.; Kim, J.Y.; Keen, C.L.
FASEB Journal 17(4-5): Abstract 691
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0892-6638 Document Number: 253823
We examined the dietary patterns, iron nutritional status and physical growth of schoolchildren (7-12 yrs) in a remote Korean rural country (RC: n=318) in comparison to those in a Korean urban area (UA: n=349). The RC children had a high frequency of poor dietary patterns. Iron, Ca, riboflavin, and niacin intakes in the rural area were lower than suggested Korean RDA (50-80%). For these nutrients, children in the UA had intakes close to the RDA. The meal category of iron bioavailability was lower in the RC than in the UA. Children in the RC often had low serum iron, ferritin or hemoglobin concentrations, and /or low hematocrits, transferrin saturations, and total iron binding capacities; 27% of the RC children were classified as iron deficient. Stunting was more frequent in the RC than in the UA. This study shows that children in the RC studied had poor dietary patterns, low essential nutrient intakes, and poor iron status. In contrast the overall nutritional status of children in the UA was good. These results show that there is a need for nutrition education programs emphasizing sound dietary patterns, and the introduction of iron-fortified foods for the schoolchildren in RC areas.