A Food and Nutrient Intake Study of the Lactating Women in Rural Korea

농촌 수유부(授乳婦)의 식품(食品) 및 영양섭취(營養攝取)조사

Almost all Korean women in rural area breast feed their children for average 18 to 24 months. Since they breastfeed their children for long period the need for the lactating mot­hers to be nutritionally refurnished becomes evidently great. However the studies on the nutrient intake level of these mothers has been very scarce. We have studied the food and nutrient intake level of 93 lactating women randomly selected from rural areas of South Korea. Thirty one well trained and experienced surveyors conducted the dietary survey by the. combination method of precise weighing and interview for two 'consecutive days. Briefly stating the findings 1) The dietary pattern of the lactating women in rural Korea was not different from the ordinary Korean diet-i.e no conscientious effort to improve the quality of the diet was apparent. 2) Consequently over 90% of the total food intake was made up with the typical rice­kimchi diet. 3) The quantity of the total food intake was greater than the national average sufficient intake of calorie was observed. 4) No milk or the milk products were consumed by the lactating women in rural Korea. 5) Average intake of protein was 88 grams. Only 5% of these was provided by the animal foods. 6) Mean daily intakes of niacin, thiamin and ascorbic acid exceeded the recommended allowances. But vitamin A intake was 1171 IU-about 33% of the RDA-and the riboflavin intake was 0.92 mg. which is about 54% of the recommended level for the lactators. 7) Average calcium intake was 490 mg.-41% of the RDA. The iron intake was adequate.