Effects of Life Away from Home and Physical Exercise on Nutrient Intake and Blood/Serum Parameters among Girl Students in Japan
SHINICHIRO SHIMBO, ZUO-WEN ZHANG, NAOKO MATSUDA-INOGUCHI, KAE HIGASHIKAWA,1 HARUO NAKATSUKA,2 TAKAO WATANABE3 and MASAYUKI IKEDA1
Department of Food and Nutrition, Kyoto Women’s University, Kyoto 605-8501,
1Kyoto Industrial Health Association, Kyoto 604-8472,
2Miyagi University, Taiwa-cho 981-3298, and
3Miyagi University of Education, Sendai 980-0845
This study was initiated to examine if the life away from home and participation in sport activities affect nutritional health among girl university students. For this purpose, anthropometric data, peripheral blood and spot urine samples, 24-hour food duplicate samples, and answers to questionnaires were collected from 71 girl students at 19 to 23 years of ages who provided informed consent to participate in the study. Of the 71 participants, 29 and 42 participants lived in their homes or outside, respectively, and 23 subjects participated in sport activities whereas 48 subjects did not. Hematology, serum biochemistry and nutrient intakes were evaluated in comparison with the life conditions (home vs. dormitory, boarding house, etc.) and participation in sport activities. The population studied had insufficient intake of energy, protein, and minerals such as Ca and Fe. Those who lived in home or participated in sport activities took more energy and protein (although not the two minerals) than others. Skipping of breakfast was more common among those who lived away from home and had no sport activity. Thus, two social factors of life in home and participation in sport clubs contribute favorably for better food habits, but not necessarily improved intakes of Ca and Fe.
keywords —— energy; life away from home; nutrients; nutritional health; protein; sport activity; student; women
© 2004 Tohoku University Medical Press
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2004, 203, 275-286
Address for reprints: Masayuki Ikeda, Kyoto Industrial Health Association, 67 Nishinokyo-Kitatsuboicho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-8472, Japan.
e-mail: ikeda@kyotokojohokenkai.or.jp