Daily Nutritional Intake Research Articles

Canavanine Content Quantification in Processed Bitter Vetch (Vicia ervilia) and Its Application as Flour in Breads: An Analysis of Nutritional and Sensory Attributes.

Bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia Willd.) is a traditional Mediterranean-West Asian legume, mainly used as livestock feed because of its toxic non-proteinogenic amino acid, canavanine. However, historical sources suggest its past human consumption. Currently, bitter vetch is a minor crop confined to marginal soils in semi-arid regions, presenting a potential alternative protein source amid projected climate changes. This study evaluated the nutritional and sensory attributes of bitter vetch seeds processed through various household methods. Germination and cooking significantly reduced the canavanine content by 28% and 60%, respectively. Incorporating bitter vetch flour (BVF) into wheat bread enhanced protein and fiber contents without substantially altering carbohydrate and lipid levels, and the baking process reduced the canavanine content by 40%. Bitter vetch flour enriched the bread with iron and calcium, contributing significantly to their daily nutritional intakes. Sensory evaluations indicated positive reception for bread with 12% BVF, achieving a balance between nutritional enhancement and consumer acceptance. This study identifies bitter vetch seeds as a valuable resource for improving bread formulations with corrected gluten contents and enhanced protein quality, as measured using protein-digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) values. With strategic processing and formulation adjustments, bitter vetch has the potential to re-emerge as a feasible high-protein grain crop, promoting sustainable farming.

Being a Substantial Out of Home Eater: Affecting Factors and Evidence on Daily Nutritional Intake Among University Students

In this cross-sectional study, it was aimed to investigate the factors affecting the choice of out of home (OH) eating in university students. A questionnaire containing the sections of age, accommodation and education status was applied to the participants (n = 399). The 24h dietary records were obtained from the participants. The participants were asked to write the locations where they consume the meals. The percentages of substantial OH eaters were 16.7% and 17.7% in males and females, respectively (p>0.05). Staying in dormitory status was found to be increased the probability of being a substantial eater compared to the reference of staying with family (odds ratios were 9.93 for females and 14.79 for males; p<0.05 for both genders). Substantial OH eaters had a higher protein, a higher carbohydrate, and a higher starch intakes than at home eaters (p<0.05 for all nutrients). It has been shown that university students mostly prefer fast food restaurants for OH eating.

Hubungan Sarapan Pagi Dengan Status Gizi Dan Prestasi Akademik Mahasiswa

Breakfast contributes 25% of the total daily nutritional intake. The benefits of breakfast can improve learning achievement. The long-term effects of nutritional intake and status can influence cognitive. This research aimed to determine the relationship between breakfast and the nutritional status and academic achievement of students. This research is an observational analytic with a cross-sectional study approach carried out on nutrition students at the Maluku Ministry of Health Polytechnic. The population was 176 people and the sample was 71 people who were willing to be involved in the research until completion. The research location was carried out at the Maluku Ministry of Health Polytechnic. The dependent variables used are nutritional status and academic achievement, while the independent variable is breakfast. Analysis of the relationship between variables was carried out using a chi-square. The results of the study showed a correlation between breakfast and nutritional status, p-value (0.002) and breakfast with achievement, p-value (0.205). In conclusion, there is a relationship between breakfast and students' nutritional status, but it has no relationship with academic achievement. It is recommended that there be similar research with a diversity of variables that can show factors that influence the nutritional status and academic achievement.

Changes in Nutritional Intake, Body Composition, and Handgrip Strength in Patients Undergoing Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Retrospective Study

Patients who undergo autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (autoHSCT) often experience reduced oral intake and wasting. We examined their daily nutritional intake, assessed alterations in body composition and muscle strength, and explored associations between decreased nutritional intake and treatment outcomes. This retrospective study included 64 patients. Their food record charts and parenteral nutrition (PN) prescriptions from medical records were used to assess nutritional intake. Body composition and handgrip strength data were obtained from dietitian records. Patients consumed >75% of their nutritional requirements through an oral diet in 6.7 days, 50–75% in 4.8 days, 25–50% in 5.0 days, and <25% in 3.1 days. The average oral intake was 62% of the requirement and was partially supplemented with PN. Patients experienced a mean decrease in body weight of 2.9 ± 3.0 kg, with 2.3 ± 3.4 kg of lean mass, and a mean reduction in handgrip strength of 3.5 ± 3.6 kg. We found a positive correlation of caloric deficits with weight loss and handgrip strength reduction and negative correlation with time to neutrophil engraftment and duration of hospitalization. This study highlighted a notable reduction in oral nutritional intake following autoHSCT. While caloric deficits might affect outcomes, further investigation is warranted to explore this observation.

Effect Momming Guide Kangoroe Mother Care Skin to Skin Contact on the Body Weight on Low Birth Weight

BACKGROUND: Babies are children who are in the age range 0–12 months. Infancy is the first phase of human life, which at this time requires adaptation to the environment. Low birth weight (LBW) is a newborn who has a birth weight of &lt;2500 g (up to 2499 g). Babies with LBW will have an impact in the long term in the future that will affect the quality of the nation’s next generation. General management of infants with LBW is very necessary to prevent complications. General management that can be given to infants with LBW is maintaining body weight by weighing daily and monitoring nutritional intake. One of the actions that can be given to babies with LBW is using the Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) method. KMC method of treatment is a skin to skin contact therapy, namely, conduction heat transfer from mother to baby so that the baby remains warm and stable so that it will increase the baby’s weight. Researchers are interested in taking the title “The Effect of Momming Guide Kanggoroe Mother Care Skin To Skin Contact on Body Weight in LBW in Puskesmas Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta.” AIM: To find out the effect of Momming Guide Kanggoroe Mother Care Skin To Skin Contact on Body Weight in LBW in Puskesmas Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta METHODS: Quasi experimental research type with the design of “Pre-test Post-test with Control Group Design.” Sampling was carried out by purposive sampling with the criteria of parents (mothers) who have babies with LBW at the Yogyakarta Special Public Health Center. Data were analyzed analytically using t-test and Wilcoxon with a significant level of 0.05. RESULTS: The difference in the weight of newborns with the 1st month and the 2nd month with the 3rd month there is a difference with the value of p = 0.00 (&lt;0.05). While the difference in body weight in the 1st and 2nd month, there was a difference with p = 0.005 (&lt; 0.05). CONCLUSION: There is an effect of Momming Guide Kanggoroe Mother Care Skin To Skin Contact on Body Weight in LBW in Puskesmas Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta.

Nutritional Status, Daily Nutrition Intake, and Dietary Patterns of Korean Adults With Low Vision and Blindness

Introduction: The preparation of healthy foods and maintaining a standard body weight and shape may be challenging for people with low vision and blindness (i.e., visual impairments) without the assistance of a sighted person. The purpose of this study was to compare the nutrition-related characteristics of individuals with and without visual impairments. Methods: This study employed four public datasets provided by the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys conducted between 2013 and 2016 at 1-year intervals. The selected datasets included a set of questions to assess the health and nutritional status, and 115 items from a food frequency questionnaire for dietary assessment. A total of 260 respondents visual impairments and their counterparts (n = 260) were included in this study. Results: The mean age of individuals with visual impairments was 32.58 years (SD = 9.56) and 67.8% were women. They consumed excessive sodium and insufficient vitamin A, beta-carotene, and calcium, based on the recommendations for Korean adults’ nutrition intake. In k-means clustering, two dietary patterns were identified among the respondents with visual impairments: Cluster 1 (n = 33) showed higher consumption of kimchi (t = 2.05, p = .046), beverages (t = 8.78, p &lt; .001), sweets (t = 10.02, p &lt; .001), and oil and nuts (t = 10.20, p &lt; .001) than Cluster 2 (n = 227). Discussion: Robust quantitative research is required to establish the baseline nutrition profile of this marginalized population. The findings of this study support the need for interventions to address the unmet food and nutrition needs of individuals with visual disabilities. Implications for Practitioners: The information and education about healthy eating and balanced nutrient intake should be provided in an accessible format for people with visual impairments in a timely manner.

Bioavailability and health effects of some carotenoids by different cooking methods

Humans lack the inherent capability to synthesize carotenoids, necessitating their acquisition through dietary sources or supplementation. Among the carotenoids prevalent in our daily nutritional intake are beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, beta-cryptoxanthin, alpha-carotene, and zeaxanthin. They have antioxidant features thanks to their ability to capture ROS (reactive oxygen species) and free radicals. Particularly beta-carotene, lycopene and lutein are carotenoids with high antioxidant capacity. However, with the effects of factors, such as oxygen, high temperature, light exposure, and pH, they are oxidatively degraded and their bioavailability in the body changes. Among food processing methods, reducing food size and dietary fiber inhibits the absorption of carotenoids by micellization and inactivating pancreatic lipase, while monounsaturated fatty acids have been shown to increase bioavailability and absorption. In vitro studies on various vegetables and fruits with the effect of exogenous factors showed that the addition of oil, increase in lycopene processing, decrease in food particle size, increase in micellization with the breakdown of dietary fibers, and increase in bioavailability as a result of the destruction of cell walls with heat treatment. The addition of olive oil with heat treatment and the factors of decreasing food particle size have positive effects on health by transforming carotenoids into forms with high bioavailability in the body. This review endeavors to investigate the bioavailability of select carotenoids, namely lycopene, beta-carotene, and lutein, in light of various cooking methods and processes, as well as to elucidate their implications for health resulting from heat treatments.

Гигиеническая оценка суточного рациона питания студентов медицинского вуза

It is difficult to overestimate the relevance of the study of the actual nutrition of students of higher education institutions, as nutrition is the most important component of healthy lifestyle. The aim of the study was to perform hygienic assessment of the medical university students’ daily dietary intake. The study involved 1200 students of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd years at the department of general medicine, pediatric department and dental department. The method of studying actual nutrition with the help of an electronic food diary, where the subjects entered information about the foods consumed during the day, was chosen to record actual nutrition facts. Data processing showed that the daily nutritional intake of students at all the studied faculties was characterized by reduced caloric content, reduced intake of nutritional substances, lack of systematization of meals and eating mainly in the evening. Thus, hygienic assessment of the medical students’ daily dietary intake revealed shortcomings in the organization of nutrition of this population group, which should be eliminated in order to preserve and improve the health of future specialists. In subsequent studies, one would need to assess the nutrition of different gender groups in order to trace the emerging nutritional stereotypes in groups of young men and women, taking into account the differences in age and the chosen specialty.

NutriColoring: designing a doodling toolkit to support daily self-reported dietary assessment among office workers.

This study was motivated by a desire to help working-age individuals gain a better understanding of their daily nutritional intakes with a new self-reported dietary assessment method because an unhealthy eating behavior increases the risks of developing chronic diseases. In this study, we present the design and evaluation of NutriColoring, a food diary that leverages doodling on sketches to report and reflect on everyday diet in the working context. Through a 2-week field study involving 18 participants, the usefulness of NutriColoring in facilitating dietary assessment was tested by making comparisons with the typical bullet diary method. Our quantitative results showed that NutriColoring provided users with improved dietary assessment experience and intrinsic motivations, with significantly low task frustration and high enjoyment. Because of the freedom and playfulness in reporting intakes at work, the interview findings showed a high acceptance of employing NutriColoring at work. This article is concluded with a set of implications for the design and development of a Doodling toolkit to support healthy eating behaviors among office workers.

Daily Nutritional Intake of Pediatric Patients (N = 64) on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation from 2018 to 2022: A Single-Center Report.

Nutrition in pediatric populations who require life-saving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) remains a debate. We sought to identify if nutritional needs were met in a patient cohort. A retrospective chart review of patients (N = 64) requiring ECMO at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital between 2018 and 2022 was evaluated for demographics, daily nutritional data, laboratory values, ECMO complications, and outcome data, with primary outcome measures of percent protein and percent caloric intake. Secondary outcome measures included the intensive care unit length of stay, time on ECMO, mortality, and day 1 severity of illness scores (Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction). The timeline partially overlapped with the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected for 467 ECMO days with a median age of 2.6 months; 57.8% of patients were male and 65.6% were with one pre-existing comorbidity. Venoarterial (VA) ECMO was utilized in 84.4% of patients; the ECMO indication was cardiac in 53.1% of patients. The 28-day mortality was 43.8%. The proportion of days in which the caloric goal was met was 0%; the proportion of days in which protein goals were met was 33.3%. Non-cardiac ECMO patients had a greater number of days where caloric goals were met (p-value = 0.04). Mortality at 28 days was not statistically significant (p-value = 0.28) for calories or protein administered. The patient cohort struggled to meet calorie and protein goals while on ECMO.

Contribution of Snacks and Physical Activities to Elevated Blood Pressure of Adolescent Girls in West Java, Indonesia

Introduction: The prevalence of hypertension in Indonesia has continued to increase over the last few years. An unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity can elevate blood pressure, particularly if an unhealthy lifestyle has been followed since adolescence. This study aimed to analyze the correlation between snack consumption and physical activity with blood pressure in adolescent girls. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 349 adolescent girls from seven Islamic boarding schools in West Java, Indonesia. Data on daily food and snack consumption were obtained by the 24-hour recall for 3 non-consecutive days. Blood pressure was measured using a digital blood pressure instrument, and the results were categorized by age, gender, and height. Linear regression analyses were performed to investigate determinants of blood pressure. Results: A total of 120 (34.4%) of the adolescent girls in the study had hypertension. A majority of girls had inadequate daily intake (energy, fat, carbohydrates, and sodium; only total protein intake met Indonesia’s recommended dietary allowance). Snacks were found to be high in protein, fat, and carbohydrates, with consumption levels above 15%. More than half (61.9%) of the subjects’ daily sodium intake came from snacks. Low-fat intake from snacks was associated with an increase in blood pressure in this study. Daily nutritional intake affecting blood pressure included sodium and total fat intake. Lack of physical activity in adolescent girls was not a risk factor for elevated blood pressure. Conclusion: Fat and sodium intake was associated with elevated blood pressure in adolescent girls.

Impact of a daily legume-based meal on dietary and nutritional intake in a group of omnivorous adults.

Adopting eco-friendly diets will demand the consumption of more plant-based protein food sources such as legumes. However, assessing the impact of such a dietary shift on the dietary and nutritional intake of traditionally omnivorous populations is needed. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of substituting a traditional omnivorous-based lunch for a vegetarian, legume-based meal on the daily dietary and nutritional intake in a group of omnivorous adults in the city of Porto, Portugal. Nineteen, non-vegetarian, healthy young adults consumed a vegetarian, legume-based meal from Monday to Friday, for 8 consecutive weeks. Socio-demographic data, health status, lifestyle-related information and anthropometric parameters were recorded. Three-day food records were used to collect food intake at baseline and week 8. European Food Safety Authority and World Health Organization reference values were used to assess nutritional inadequacies. Variables were described as medians (P25 and P75 ). Wilcoxon signed-rank and Mann-Whitney tests were used for statistical comparisons. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Participants consumed 38.0 (P25 = 35.0; P75 = 40.0) meals, resulting in an intake of 84.5 g (P25 = 74.9; P75 = 98.4) of cooked legumes per meal, meaning 11 subjects (57.9%) met the Portuguese guidelines for legume consumption (≥80 g/day of legumes). The current dietary intervention did not seem to aggravate the prevalence of nutritional inadequacies for the macro- and micronutrients tested, except for the case of vitamin B12 (52.6% [95% CI: 28.9-75.6] vs. 78.9% [95% CI: 54.4-94.0]). This could be linked to the reduction of dietary sources of this vitamin which is an expected consequence of vegetarian meals. Dietary changes towards grain legume-based diets are desirable yet need to be carefully implemented to prevent exacerbating potential nutrient inadequacies, especially of vitamin B12 .

The influence of health star rating labels on plant-based foods: The moderating role of consumers’ believability

Plant-based meat analogues have been increasingly used by consumers as a replacement for traditional meat to supplement their daily nutritional intake. With the perspective that health is a key motivator for plant-based food consumption, this research investigates how health star rating (HSR) labels inform consumers’ perceived healthiness and purchase intentions of plant-based versus animal-based food products. Further, we investigate how this effect is influenced by varying levels of perceived believability in product package information. A study was conducted in March 2022 with a sample of 582 U.S. residents. Findings from our study indicate that when perceived believability in product package information is low, a HSR label is more effective in influencing consumers’ perceived healthiness of the plant-based product as compared to the animal-based product. However, as perceived believability in product package information increases, the positive effect of the HSR label on perceived healthiness diminishes for the plant-based product but increases for the animal-based product. The outcome of this research contributes to theory and practice by understanding how health labels may affect consumers’ perceptions of plant-based versus animal-based foods.

Faktor yang Mempengaruhi Kekurangan Energi Kronis (KEK) pada Ibu Hamil di Desa Belaras Kecamatan Khairiah Mandah Kota Tembilahan

To prevent the risk of chronic energy deficiency (KEK) in pregnant women before pregnancy women of childbearing age must have good nutrition, for example the Upper Arm Circle (LILA) is not less than 23.5 cm. So that research is carried out with the aim to determine the factors that influence chronic energy deficiency (KEK) in pregnant women in Belaras Village, Khairiah Mandah District, Tembilahan City. This type of research is analytic with cross sectional design. With a sample of 82 pregnant women where the sample was taken by purposive sampling technique. Collecting data using a questionnaire, data were analyzed using chi square statistical test with 95% confidence degree. The results showed that the independent variables were the number of intakes of pregnant women (p-value 0.012), maternal age (p-value 0.028) and maternal knowledge (p-value 0.019) there is a significant relationship with the dependent variable, namely the incidence of KEK in pregnant women. It is recommended for pregnant women to pay more attention to their diet and the amount of daily nutritional intake needed to avoid BBLR birth and experience KEK. Keyword: Chronic Energy Deficiency (KEK)

Bitter Taste Receptor TAS2R38 Genetic Variation (rs10246939), Dietary Nutrient Intake, and Bio-Clinical Parameters in Koreans.

Differential bitterness perception associated with genetic polymorphism in the bitter taste receptor gene taste 2 receptor member 38 (TAS2R38) may influence an individual's food preferences, nutrition consumption, and eventually chronic nutrition-related disorders including cardiovascular disease. Therefore, the effect of genetic variations on nutritional intake and clinical markers needs to be elaborated for health and disease prevention. In this study, we conducted sex-stratified analysis to examine the association between genetic variant TAS2R38 rs10246939 A > G with daily nutritional intake, blood pressure, and lipid parameters in Korean adults (males = 1,311 and females = 2,191). We used the data from the Multi Rural Communities Cohort, Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study. Findings suggested that the genetic variant TAS2R38 rs10246939 was associated with dietary intake of micronutrients including calcium (adjusted p = 0.007), phosphorous (adjusted p = 0.016), potassium (adjusted p = 0.022), vitamin C (adjusted p = 0.009), and vitamin E (adjusted p = 0.005) in females. However, this genetic variant did not influence blood glucose, lipid profile parameters, and other blood pressure markers. These may suggest that this genetic variation is associated with nutritional intake, but its clinical effect was not found. More studies are needed to explore whether TAS2R38 genotype may be a potential predictive marker for the risk of metabolic diseases via modulation of dietary intake.

Nutritional Modulation of Sleep Latency, Duration, and Efficiency: A Randomized, Repeated-Measures, Double-Blind Deception Study.

This study aimed to test the hypothesis that a novel nutritional blend composed of tryptophan, glycine, magnesium, tart cherry powder, and l -theanine enhances subjective and objective measures of sleep during free living conditions. In a randomized, repeated-measures crossover and double-blind deception design, participants ( n = 9 males and 7 females, age = 24 ± 3 yr, body mass = 69.8 ± 11.6 kg, stature = 170.8 ± 9.1 cm) completed a 3-d familiarization period, followed by 3-d intervention and placebo trials. Subjective Pittsburgh Quality Sleep Index, Core Consensus Sleep Diary, and Karolinska Sleepiness Scale survey tools, alongside objective actigraphy measures of sleep, were assessed, with daily nutritional intake, activity, and light exposure standardized between trials. Participants provided daily urine samples for assessment of targeted and untargeted metabolomes. The intervention trial reduced sleep onset latency (-24 ± 25 min; P = 0.002), increased total sleep time (22 ± 32 min; P = 0.01), and increased sleep efficiency (2.4% ± 3.9%; P = 0.03), while also reducing morning sleepiness ( P = 0.02). Throughout the study, 75% of participants remained blinded to sleep assessment as a primary outcome measure, with 56% subjectively indicating improved sleep during the intervention trial. Metabolomic analysis highlighted several significantly altered metabolomes related to sleep regulation between trials, inclusive of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin, d -serine, and l -glutamic acid. Data demonstrate that using the proposed blend of novel nutritional ingredients during free living conditions reduced sleep onset latency, increased total sleep duration, and increased sleep efficiency, leading to reduced perceptions of morning sleepiness. These effects may be mediated by the upregulation of key metabolites involved in the neurophysiological modulation of the sleep/wake cycle.

PENYULUHAN PENTINGNYA PERILAKU HIDUP BERSIH DAN SEHAT DENGAN MENINGKATKAN ASUPAN GIZI SEIMBANG PADA MASA PANDEMI

The community in the village of Ringinasri Sumbermanjing wetan has not fully implemented the Clean and Healthy Lifestyle (PHBS) during the COVID-19 pandemic. This can be seen in students at MA-Al Hisi who have not implemented health protocols and have not paid attention to balanced nutrition as a daily nutritional intake. The solution to overcome this problem is through counseling with the theme of the importance of clean and healthy living behavior during the pandemic. The research procedure includes preliminary, core and final activities. The research instrument used a questionnaire. The results of the questionnaire show that most of the students have understood about clean and healthy living behavior after being given counseling.

대학 운동선수의 영양섭취, 신체조성에 관한 연구

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine characteristics between nutritional intake, body composition in college athletes. Method: Thirty-five participants were recruited in this study and were divided into the Taekwondo athletes (n=24), track and field athletes (n=11). An independent sample t-test was used to compare and analyze the physical characteristics of subjects between groups and the average daily nutritional intake. In addition, Pearson's correlation analysis was conducted to understand the relationship between the physical characteristics of the subjects and the daily average intake nutrients. Results: In terms of body composition, it was found that there was a difference between groups in height and body fat percentage (p&lt;.05), As a result of comparing the nutritional intake, it was shown that the track and field athletes had a higher intake of nutrients excluding vitamin C than the taekwondo athlete. (p&lt;.001). Conclusion: There was a significant difference in nutritional intake between taekwondo and track and field athletes, and taekwondo athletes showed significantly less nutritional intake than the recommended intake for the general public. The negative effects of nutritional deficiencies in athletes need to be studied.

Higher Parenteral Electrolyte Intakes in Preterm Infants During First Week of Life: Effects on Electrolyte Imbalances.

Objectives:This study aimed to investigate the effects of a higher intake of electrolytes from parenteral nutrition (PN) on plasma electrolyte concentrations in very low birth weight (VLBW, <1500 g) infants.Methods:This was a single-center cohort study including all VLBW infants born before (n = 81) and after (n = 53) the implementation of a concentrated PN regimen. Daily nutritional intakes and plasma concentrations of sodium, chloride, potassium, phosphate, and calcium were collected from clinical charts.Results:During the first postnatal week, electrolyte intakes were higher in infants who received concentrated PN compared with infants who received original PN. Infants who received concentrated PN had a lower incidence of hypokalemia (<3.5 mmol/L; 30% vs 76%, P < 0.001) and severe hypophosphatemia (<1.0 mmol/L; 2.2% vs 17%, P = 0.02). While the relatively high prevalence of severe hypophosphatemia in infants who received original PN can be explained by a phosphorus intake below the recommendation, the potassium intake during the first 3 postnatal days (mean ± SD: 0.7 ± 0.2 mmol/kg/d) was within the recommendation. The prevalence of early hypernatremia was not affected by the different sodium intake in the 2 groups.Conclusions:In VLBW infants, a sodium-containing PN solution (about 2.7 mmol/100 mL) does not cause hypernatremia during the first days of life. Furthermore, providing at least 1 mmol potassium/kg/d during the first 3 postnatal days might be necessary to prevent early hypokalemia.

Nutritional Status of Vegetable Cultivators of West Bengal, India

Background: West Bengal is a major producer of fresh vegetables in India. Despite that the farmers belongs to the low socio-economic group and thus their food insecurity exists, necessitating assessment of their nutritional status. Methods: Based on their activity level, a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the nutritional status of 333 vegetable cultivators of North 24 Parganas district comprising of both males and females. Using 24-hr dietary recall questionnaire, the daily nutritional intake were evaluated to estimate nutritional insufficiency, including that of vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin and vitamin C, iron, zinc, calcium and magnesium. The collected data were statistically analyzed using mean, standard deviation and t-test using SPSS (version 22). Result and Conclusion: Deficiency of micronutrients is common among the vegetable cultivators, along with excess intake of energy which create imbalance in the nutrient intake irrespective of gender and activity levels.