Comparison of Nutrient Intake in Lao PDR by the Korean CAN-Pro and Thailand INMUCAL Analysis Programs.

A computer-based nutritional analysis program can help to identify the nutritional status of people and provide information for nutritional counseling, nutrition education, diet planning, and menu development. Although computer-based nutritional analysis has been conducted since the 1960s in developed countries, in developing countries nutritional analysis programs either do not exist or need improving. This study tests two analysis programs developed by different countries to compare the nutrition status data calculated by two different analysts to highlight the importance of developing an appropriate nutrition analysis tool. An interview-administered 24-h dietary recall method was conducted with 100 adults aged 40∼59 years in Vientiane, Laos. Analysts from Korea and Laos, respectively, calculated nutrient intake using the Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University CALculation (INMUCAL) nutritional analysis program (Bangkok, Thailand). Nutrient intake was also compared using two different analysis tools, INMUCAL and computer aided nutrition-al analysis program (CAN-Pro) 5.0 software (Seoul, Korea). The average nutrient intake calculated by the different analysts using INMUCAL were not significantly different. Furthermore, macronutrient intake calculated by CAN-Pro 5.0 and INMUCAL did not significantly differ, aside for intake of iron, thiamin, and vitamin C. Nutrient intake calculated by one analysis program differed from those calculated by a different program in Laos. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an appropriate nutritional analysis program that reflects the diet behavior and food culture in Laos and to understand the nutritional status of Laotians.

Perceived Health Status and its Correlates among Middle-Aged Laotians.

The purpose of this study is to identify the determinants of perceived health status among Laotian aged 40 to 59. A total of 922 men or women in their 40's or 50's living in Vientiane Capital and Province, Lao People's Democratic Republic were included in the study. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to analyze the data. Perceived health status was negatively correlated with chance health locus of control and physical symptom frequency and positively correlated with doctors health locus of control. Age, drinking, difficulty in health utilization, physical activity, physical symptom frequency, and doctors health locus of control explained 23.5% of the variance in perceived health. To prevent the non-communicable disease, action should be taken not only at the individual level but also at the healthcare system level. In the health care fields, the targeted intervention based on the findings of this study should be devised.