Assessment of nutrient adequacy in undergraduate students during the undertaking shipboard internship: using 12-day dietary recall through smartphone photography

Abstract

Abstract Background This study aimed to investigated nutritional status and estimated the adequacy of dietary intake of university students during shipboard internships. Methods In this cross- sectional study, data were collected from 25 students out of 42 participants who attended in the research information session in the department of maritime at a university located in Jeonbook, South Korea. The dietary intake data was obtained using the 12-day dietary recall through smartphone photography during the shipboard internships. The data on dietary intake were used to calculate acceptable macronutrient distribution ranges (AMDRs), frequency of inappropriate intake of the 2020 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRIs) as a reference, intake ratio to the nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR), mean adequacy ratio (MAR), and index of nutritional quality (INQ). Results The average age of subjects was 21.68 years and average BMIs in men and women were 25.67 kg/m2 and 23.44kg/m2, respectively. The average energy of men and women was 2018.66 kcal and 1727.87 kcal, respectively. More than half of the subjects did not meet the inappropriate range of the AMDRs for carbohydrates and fat. The NAR of vitamin A, vitamin C, and calcium among all 10 nutrients tended to be lower in both men and women. The MAR were 0.71 and 0.769. On the other hand, in both men and women, vitamin C had the lowest INQ (0.5 and 0.39). For men, grains and potatoes were the major contributors to energy and carbohydrates, and calcium contributed in the order of meat, fish and eggs and vegetables and fruits. Although the highest contributors to energy and carbohydrates for women were grains and potatoes, the contributions from meat, fish, and eggs were similar, and the major contributors to calcium were vegetables and fruits. Conclusions To improve the inadequate nutritional status of university students engaged in shipboard internships with the aim of pursuing careers as seafarers, there is a need to provide additional nutritional education tailored to their specific circumstances. Additionally, professional health guidance should be provided to maintain optimal nutritional status.