Dietary Choline Intake of Korean Young Aldults

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to investigate the choline intake of Korean adults for the purpose of preparing a basal data required for the establishment of choline adequate intake (AI). The subjects of 56 Korean young adults were recruited from college students of 20 to 30 years old in Daejeon city. The aliquots of foods that the subjects ate for one day were collected with use of duplicate food collection method and choline content of one day meal directly was analyzed with the use of enzymatic method. Choline intakes of male subjects were in the range of 353.5 ~ 1222.5 mg and those of female subjects were in the range of 213.1 ~ 722.3 mg. Mean intakes of choline were 658.2 +/- 243.9 mg/day in male subjects and 423.3 +/- 133.6 mg/day in female, therefore choline intake of men was about 200mg higher than that of women. Median value in total subjects was 496 mg, male's median was 608.8 mg, female's median was 419.9 mg. When the subjects were devided into 4 groups by choline intake, as less than 75%, 75 ~ 100%, 100 ~ 125% and over 125% based on choline AI of USA (males 550 mg, females 425 mg), there was no significant difference between men (64.3%) and wemen (67.9%) in the distribution of the subjects whose choline intake is under the range of 75 ~ 125% AI of USA. However, 10.7% of men and 21.4% of female had choline intake less than 75% AI of USA while the cases of choline intake higher than 125% AI were 25% in male and 10.7% in female. Thus, it is assumed that female case in choline-deficient state would be two times more than male. When adjusted by body weight, choline intake was 9.5 +/- 3.4 mg/kg in men, 8.1 +/- 3.1 mg/kg in women and 8.8 +/- 3.3 mg/kg in total subjects. And choline intake per 1,000 kcal of men, women and total subjects were 277.1 +/- 78.4 mg, 275.9 +/- 62.1 mg and 276.5 +/- 70.1 mg respectively. From these results, it is suggested that these levels of 276.5 +/- 70.1 mg/ 1,000 kcal or 8.8 +/- 3.3 mg/kg B.W. can be used as a reference value for the establishment of AI of choline for Korean, because overall choline intake of these subjects was not in lower state compared to other nutrients intakes obtained from calculation of the food the subjects had taken.