Nutrient Intake Status of Korean Drinkers: Analysis of Data from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), 2011

ABSTRACT

This study analyzed the dietary habits and nutrient intake status of adult drinkers in Korea. Alcohol drinking patterns were obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Among 4,968 persons, 91.5% were drinkers. Classification of their drinking patterns by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) score showed 64.5% of the drinkers were normal drinkers, 22.4% problem drinkers and 13.2% alcohol-dependent drinkers. Overall, 47% of the drinkers were considered alcohol-dependent in the Rapid Alcohol Problems Screen (RAPS4). Significant differences were found between those who abstained from alcohol (86.8%) and alcohol-dependent drinkers (68.9%); when asked about breakfast habits 73.4% of non-drinkers often had family meals, while only 55.4% of the alcohol-dependent drinkers had family meals. Dietary energy, alcohol energy, and total energy intake significantly increased for the alcohol-dependents (P<0.001). In addition, the intake of eight nutrients (protein, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin, calcium, phosphorous and iron), significantly increased in the following order (least to highest): abstainers, normal drinkers, drinkers with a moderate addiction to alcohol and alcohol-dependent drinkers (P<0.05). Nutrient Adequacy Ratios (NAR) of all nutrients, except vitamin C, and the Mean nutrient Adequacy Ratio (MAR) significantly increased in the following order (least to highest): abstainers, normal drinkers, drinkers with a moderate addiction to alcohol and alcohol-dependent drinkers (P<0.05). The intake of vitamin B1, vitamin B2, and niacin per 1,000 kcal, according to drinking pattern, decreased in the order of abstainers, normal drinkers, drinkers with a moderate addiction to alcohol, and alcohol-dependent drinkers (P<0.001). The above results show that the nutrient intake of normal drinkers, drinkers with a moderate addiction to alcohol, and alcohol-dependent drinkers are higher than abstainers. However, overall intake of vitamin B1, vitamin B2, and niacin per 1,000 kcal was low. Therefore it is necessary to increase vitamin B1, vitamin B2, and niacin intake for drinkers.