Abstract

This study aimed to assess the total sugar intake for Korean and to identify major food sources contributing to those food components. Korean adults aged over 20 years old from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2001 and 2002 were selected. The data were analyzed to obtain nationally and seasonally representative information on the health and nutritional status of the Korean. Forty food groups were used in identifying food sources of total sugar and energy intake. Total sugar contents of foods in the KNHANES data sets were estimated by food code matching technique with Release 18 of the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference. Sample weighted means, standard errors, and population percentages were calculated using SAS and SUDAAN. The mean total sugar intake of the Korean was 60.3g in 2001, 40.9g in spring 2002, 45.7g in summer 2002, and 52.1g in fall 2002, which were 30-44% of intake of US people. Fresh fruit was identified as the most significant food source for total sugar intake in Korean population in all age groups and all seasons. The next major food sources following fresh fruits were candy/jelly/syrup/honey, coffee/coffee caream, vegetables, Kimchi, soft drinks, milk, fruit juice, cookie/cracker/cake, and vegetable juice/grain juice, which showed similar results through the seasons. While carbonated soft drink was the most significant food sources for total sugar or added sugar intakes for US people. The total sugar intakes were significantly higher in women, higher educational level, and residing in metropolitan area. As intake of total sugar increased, intakes of protein, fiber, calcium, phosphorus, iron, Vit A, B1, B2, C, niacin showed significantly increased, while high intakes of added sugars showed low intakes of some micronutrients in the US people. Percentages of people who consumed nutrients below EAR were less in higher total sugar intake group than in lower intake group. From these results, we can conclude that the food consumption habits including the total sugar intake of Korean people seems relatively good so far. More reliable database of total sugar and added sugar composition tables in public domain should be established in the future, and also more researches about total sugar and added sugar for Koreans should be continued.

Keywords

• total sugar;
• food source;
• Korean national health and nutrition examination survey(KNHANES)