FOOD AND NUTRIENT INTAKES AMONG 20-60 AGED INHABITANTS OF TEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES POPULATION LAB REGION

Nutrition plays an important role in the protection and promotion of health. To plan and implement programs aiming at improving community nutritional status, a knowledge of the existing situation is essential. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine food and nutrient intakes of the inhabitants in Tehran University of Medical Sciences population laboratory. In a sample of 310 women and 185 men, selected by clustered random sampling, food intake was determined using the 24-hour dietary recall (on two non-consecutive days). Weights and heights were also measured on the first visit. For analysis of data, Dorosti Food Processor, Diet Analysis plus and SPSS software were used. The average (mean ± SD) intakes of energy, protein, carbohydrate, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, vitamin A, B2, B6, B12, folic acid, zinc, iron, and calcium were 2902±336cal, 88±15gr, 461±69gr, 80±19gr, 27±7gr, 272±112mg, 943±319µgr RE, 1.2±.35mgr, 1.2±. 37mg, 2.9±2.67µgr, 294±73.7µgr, 10.48± 2.25mg, 28.90±5.81mg, and 537±123mg in men, and 2226±234cal, 66±11gr, 344±41gr, 70±14gr, 22±6gr, 205±85mgr, 882±291µgr RE,. 88±.22mg, 1.14±. 24mg, 2.2±2.07µgr, 270±60.7µgr, 8.65±1.62mg, 22.66±4.27mg, and 433±113mg in women, respectively. The average (mean +SD) daily numbers of servings of the food guide pyramid main groups, namely, grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy, and meat were 12.74±3.80, 1.52±1.44, 4.30±2.74,. 97±.72, and. 9±.98 in men, and 9.8±3.3, 2.87±2.06, 2.88±2.40,. 82±.60, and. 86±.84 in women, respectively. Most of these intakes are under current recommendations. Thirty eight percent of the men and 23% of the women had a daily cholesterol intake of at least 300 mg. In addition, the proportions of the men and women with a daily total fat intake of at least 75 gram was 43% and 35%, respectively. The findings show that while the intake of most micronutrients is lower than respective RDAs, the intake of fat and cholesterol are higher than the current recommendations. This indicates that the community is undergoing nutrition transition. It is recommended that further studies be conducted to identify more comprehensively nutritional problems of the community in question, so that appropriate programs can be prepared and implemented.