Food consumption patterns and nutrient intake among Nepalese living in the southern rural Terai region.

The dietary nutrient intake of persons aged 10-68 years (55 males and 54 females) living in the Chitwan district, Nepal, was investigated using the 24-hour recall method. The mean daily consumption of food for males and females averaged 483± 92 and 433± 115 g of cereals, 179± 126 and 167± 126 g of coloured vegetables, 91± 177 and 111± 206 g of milk and dairy products, 67± 91 and 53± 82 g of potatoes, respectively. These items constituted more than three-fourths of the total food weight, whereas the amounts and frequency of the consumption of meats, fish and eggs were very low. Males (464± 80 g) consumed a larger amount of rice than females (408± 105 g, p<0.01). The level of rice consumption 1000 was strongly related to the level of energy intake (r= 0.60), protein (r= 0.44), carbohydrate (r= 0.66), vitamin B1 (r= 0.77), niacin (r= 0.53) and vitamin E (r= 0.54), (p<0.001). The mean amount of total energy intake for males (2340± 526 kcal) was higher than that of females (1930± 457 kcal, p<0.01). The daily mean intakes of protein, fat, Ca, vitamin B1 and B2 were 51.9± 13.0 g, 23.0± 9.8 g, 412± 228 mg, 1.88± 0.33 mg and 0.73± 0.27 mg for males and 47.4± 12.5 g, 26.1± 13.8 g, 395± 237 mg, 1.72± 0.39 mg and 0.68± 0.31 mg for females, respectively. The intake levels of Fe and vitamin E for males (8.5± 3.4 and 4.4± 1.5 mg) were higher than those of females (6.7± 1.9 and 3.7± 1.2 mg, p<0.01, respectively). The mean intake of vitamin A, mostly of carotene (about 90% of vitamin A), was 1614± 1003 and 1561± 1031 IU for males and females, respectively. The consumption of coloured vegetables was correlated with the intake of vitamin A (r= 0.96), B2 (r= 0.37) and C (r= 0.85), (p<0.001, respectively).