Abstract
This study was performed to assess the extent of dietary diversity and nutrient intakes of Korean child-bearing women and to investigate the relationships between dietary diversity indices and nutrient intakes. A total of 91 women aged 18 to 48 years old participated. They were divided into four groups by age 15 subjects in teens, 20 in twenties. 32 in thirties and 24 in forties. Mean energy intake was 1638${\pm}$471㎉/day and it was low as 81.4% of the Korean RDA for energy. Mean intakes of folate, calcium and iron were also low as 81.7%. 72.6% and 57.2% of the RDAs. On the other hand, protein, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin and vitamin C were consumed close to or above the RDAs. It was obvious that the subjects in teens and twenties took less all of the nutrients as well as energy than those In thirties and forties. Mean nutrient adequacy ratio( MNAR) was 0.77 and showed a trend to raise with increasing age. Thus MNAR of the teens was the lowest and that of the forties was the highest among the age groups. The results in this study support the previous findings that nutrient intakes of women in teens and twenties were poorer compared to those in thirties and forties. Mean dietary diversity score( DDS) . dietary variety score(DVS) and dietary frequency score( DFS) were 4.1. 11.6 and 14.7. respectively. DVS and DFS of the teens and twenties were lower than those in thirties and forties. DDS significantly correlated to the intakes of energy and calcium only, however, DVS and DFS had significant relationships to the intakes of all nutrients. The MNAR significantly related to DVS and DFS. but not DDS. In conclusion, the intakes of energy, folate. calcium and iron of child-bearing women were not sufficient and their nutrient adequacy highly correlated with dietary diversity. It indicates that to consume various foods helps to enhance the nutritional status.