TOTAL FOOD DUPLICATE STUDY ON NUTRIENT INTAKE OF WORKING WOMEN IN MANILA, THE PHILIPPINES

Intakes of various nutrients by working women in Manila, the Philippin es, was surveyed by the total food duplicate method, with foci to eluc idate relative weight of three meals and snack in addition to quantita tive evaluation of nutrient intakes. In practice, 45 women (average ag e; 37.2 years) volunteered, who were all nonsmokers and nonhabitual dr inkers. and mostly married. In parallel, hematology, serum biochemistr y, anthropometry and clinical examinations mere conducted. On average, the women took 1787 kcal energy, 57 g protein, and 54 g lipid daily. Comparison with the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for Filipinos showed that intakes of energy and major nutrients were adequate, wher eas that of minerals (e.g., 15 mg Fe/day vs. 26 mg Fe/day as RDA) and vitamins (e.g., 0.65 mg vitamin B-1/day vs. 1 mg/day as RDA) were gene rally insufficient. Prevalence of anemia was however rather low with a n average hemoglobin concentration of 12.9 g/100 ml blood. Rice was th e staple source of energy for daily life, and beef rather than fish an d shellfish was the leading source of protein. Lunch was the richest m eal of a day (with the largest intake of energy, protein and lipid), a nd snacks rather than dinner appeared to be next substantial. (C) 1998 Tohoku University Medical Press.