Nutrition Status of School Children living in a Remote and Secluded Place among the Mountain near Kyoto City

Abstract

The author surveyed the nutrition status of school children, 21 boys and 24 girls, living in a remote and secluded place among the mountain near Kyoto city in July, 1966, in order to study whether their volume of food intake has any effect on body status or nutrition status. Results obtained were as follows:
i) Fuel values of consumed food were from 1637 Cal. to 2210 Cal. per day. These values were more than the average eaten with the children living in Kyoto city (standard). Intake of protein were from 49g to 62g per day and these values were less from 8 per cent to 22 per cent than standard. Also calcium, vitamin A, B₁, B₂ and C were taten less than standard.
ii) Intake of total protein contained from 33 per cent to 38 per cent of animal protein which contained less a kind of milk or egg. Protein score of the protein consumed were from 82 to 86 and chemical score were from 74 to 75. All of first limitting amino acid in these foods were sulphur containing amino acid and E/T ratio were from 2.52 to 2.56.
iii) Physical status of these children were better than standard in girls but less about 10 per cent than standard in boys.
iv) Specific gravity of whole blood were from 1.052 to 1.053, hemoglobin contents were from 12.1 to 12.8gm/dl and serum protein concentration were from 6.51 to 7.05gm/dl.
From these results, the author concluded that the subjects did not get any illness but physical status were rather inferior than standard because they were nourished with less quality of protein.