DIETARY QUALITY WITH REGARD TO CALCIUM AND IRON DENSITY IN SEVEN PROVINCES OF IRAN

Abstract

Based on the date obtained through food consumption surveys conducted by the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology Research (during 1991-95), the dietary quality of seven provinces (Eastern Azerbaijan, Isfahan, Tehran, Khorasan, Khouzestan, Sistan-Baluchestan and Fars) was assessed. Using allowances figures for developing countries, single value nutrient density (S.V.N.A.) was designed for two nutrients including calcium and Iron. Index of nutrient density of each nutrient was calculated separately for each household, included in the study. The mean and the standard deviation were obtained in each province, disaggregated into urban and rural areas and the index of nutrition quality (INQ) was determined. The finding showed that the mean nutrient density and the index of nutrition quality for calcium were below and for Iron were above their respective standards in all provinces. The finding suggested that there was unbalanced energy and nutrient intakes in the form of excess intake (especially in urban households) and low intake (especially in urban households). According to the results only a small proportion of the households had both energy and nutrient intake at an acceptable level.