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Food consumption and serum nutritional status of people living in the Kathmandu valley in Nepal

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Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine Aims and scope

Abstract

Objective

The food consumption and serum nutritional status of people living in the Kathmandu valley, Nepal, were examined to obtain actual data for comparison with our previous findings.

Methods

A dietary survey of 45 males and 60 females was carried out in March 1997 by the 24-hr dietary recall method and nutrient intake was calculated from food tables of India and Japan. Fasting venous blood samples were obtained and serum biochemical parameters were measured using clinical kits.

Results

The mean body mass index values was at about the same level in both sexes, although the mean percentage body fat of females was higher than that of males, and vice versa for packed red cell volume. The main foods consumed by both sexes, were rice, potatoes, meats, milk & dairy products and vegetables, with a difference in the amounts consumed. Females did not drink alcoholic beverages. The mean daily intakes of energy, protein, lipids, iron and vitamin B group for the males were higher than those for the females, while those of vitamins A and C for the males were lower than those for the females. The mean values of serum biochemical parameters for both sexes were generally at the normal levels, but those of ALT and TG were at the higher end of the normal range. Differences of correlation between food groups and between serum parameters were observed depending on the sex, however, no clear relationship between food and nutrient intake and serum biochemical parameters were observed.

Conclusions

The present food intake study revealed that the amounts of food consumption for both sexes, especially for the females, were mostly insufficient although the serum parameters were at the normal levels. The energy intake of both sexes was lower than that of estimated requirements and those in Terai region. The relatively high serum TG level of the subjects may be due to the consumption of large amounts of cereals containing much carbohydrate. Our findings suggested a marked influence on food consumption by food price and income in spite of the easier food availability in the city, and also lack of knowledge about nutrients and health, thus there is need for improvement of the nutritional status of this group of people.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Human Environmental Sciences, Mukogawa Women’s University, 663-8558, Hyogo, Japan

    Yoshimi Ohno

  2. Department of Health and Nutrition, Graduate School of Human Life Science, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan

    Kazuko Hirai & Yuko Akai

  3. Department of Physiology II, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan

    Susumu Sakata

  4. Department of Health Budo and Sports Studies, Tenri University, Nara, Japan

    Satoshi Shimizu

  5. Department of Public Health, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan

    Kumiko Ogoshi

  6. Health Research Laboratory, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal

    Sarala Sherchand, Rajesh Gurung & Jeevan B. Sherchand

  7. Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research and Prevention Center, Kathmandu, Nepal

    Sarala Sherchand & Jeevan B. Sherchand

  8. Department of Community Medicine and Family Health, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal

    Mathura P. Shrestha

Authors
  1. Yoshimi Ohno
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  2. Kazuko Hirai
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  3. Susumu Sakata
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  4. Satoshi Shimizu
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  5. Yuko Akai
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  6. Kumiko Ogoshi
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  7. Sarala Sherchand
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  8. Rajesh Gurung
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  9. Jeevan B. Sherchand
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  10. Mathura P. Shrestha
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Correspondence to Yoshimi Ohno.

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Ohno, Y., Hirai, K., Sakata, S. et al. Food consumption and serum nutritional status of people living in the Kathmandu valley in Nepal. Environ Health Prev Med 10, 78–85 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02897997

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02897997

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