FOOD-INTAKE IN UNIVERSITY-STUDENTS AND ITS IMPACT ON NUTRITIONAL-STATUS

The present study has assessed the composition of the food distributed by a University canteen (CORIS, Modena, Italy) analyzing the principal nutrients of both winter and summer menus for a period of one week. The analysis of the principal nutrients (carbohydrates, lipids and proteins) contained in the food was carried out by laboratory methods and by using a computerized data bank of food composition tables. The computerized data were compared with the laboratory data and both with LARN (italian RDA, recommended daily allowance) for a male (M) and female (F) student aged 18-29 years. In winter the energy intake exceeded LARN of a value comprised between 481 and 981 Kcal/day for M and between 981 to 1481 Kcal/day for F; in summer energy intake in M exceeded RDA of a value ranging from 387 to 887 Kcal/day, in F from 887 to 1387 Kcal/day. Proteins exceeded LARN of 25-40% in M and 40-50% in F in both periods. The lipid intake was unbalanced in both sexes being 10-20% in excess for M and 30-40% in excess for F in both periods. The daily complex carbohydrate intake was deficient for M (-25 % of LARN), especially in summer, less deficient for F (-5% of LARN), these consuming also too much simple carbohydrates (+32% of LARN). The results of the computerized survey were fairly close to the laboratory data and proved that this form of control is sufficiently reliable.