S. Shimbo et al., NUTRITIONAL-EVALUATION OF CHINESE WORKING WOMEN IN THE CITY OF TAINAN, TAIWAN, Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine, 181(3), 1997, pp. 339-352
Nutritional survey was conducted in 1994 in Taiwan City, southern Taiw
an. Total food duplicate samples were collected from 52 women voluntee
rs. Clinical examinations, anthropometry, hematology and serum biochem
istry were also conducted. The intakes of nutrients were estimated fro
m the weights of food items in reference to the standard food composit
ion tables for Taiwanese. On average, the participants took 1,973 kcal
energy, 69 g protein, 73 g lipid and 269 g carbohydrate per day. Anim
al-based foods accounted for 49% and 36% of protein and lipid sources,
respectively, but fish and shellfish contributed only 11% for protein
and essentially nil for lipid. Lunch was the most substantial meal of
the day. When classified by age (i.e., 22-29, 30-39 and 40-66 year-ol
d groups), no age-related difference was detected among the three grou
ps in all nutrients except for crude fiber. Comparison with recommende
d dietary allowance (RDA) for Taiwanese, the insufficiency ratios were
more than 50% for minerals (i.e., Fe and Ca) and vitamins (except for
vitamin C). Excess in the lipid energy ratio (> 30%) was observed in
60% of the study population. In agreement with this high lipid intake,
17% of the participants had BMI of >25, and triglyceride levels were
elevated (>150 mg/100 mi) in 27%. There was no anemic case despite the
low Fe intake (Ir, mg/day).