ENERGY-INTAKE AS A DETERMINANT FACTOR OF VITAMIN STATUS IN HEALTHY-YOUNG WOMEN

The vitamin (B-1, B-2, B-6, retinol, beta-carotene, E and ascorbic aci d) status of 56 young women (aged 21-30 years) has been analysed by st udying dietary intakes and biochemical parameters and relating them to energy intake. Only 25% of the sample consumed more than 2000 kcal/da y and a high percentage of apparently healthy women had low vitamin in takes, especially in the case of vitamin E, B-6 and retinol. Except fo r retinol and beta-carotene, significant correlations between energy a nd vitamin intakes were found. With respect to blood levels, 86% of wo men had deficient or marginal levels for B-1 , 71% for B-2, 75% of B-6 and 64% for beta-carotene. An adequate or optimal situation has been shown in the case of vitamin C (92%), E (88%) and retinol (77.5%). No correlation between energy intake and vitamin blood levels was found, except for vitamin B-6. These data show that young women are vulnerabl e to developing vitamin deficiencies, especially those consuming low e nergy diets.