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A Study of the Diet of Twenty Women in a Moderate-Income Group¹

Department of Home Economics, The University of Texas, Austin

In estimating the deficiencies of the diet of a group of women on a moderate income, the recommended allowances for a moderately active woman have been used. For a similar purpose, but for a low-income group, the allowances for a sedentary woman were employed. This is in accordance with the opinion of the investigators concerning the activity of the subjects.

The general conclusions in regard to the low-income group were that calorie intakes were from one-half to three-fourths of the recommended allowance; that the average intakes of thiamine, niacin, and riboflavin were approximately one-third and the intakes of protein, calcium, and phosphorus approximately one-half of the allowance recommended. Pantothenic acid was only about one-fourth of the 10 mg. suggested by R. J. Williams ('41) as representing adequacy for this vitamin. Similar conclusions for a comparable group of women on a moderate income level, were that calorie intakes varied, on the whole, from one-half to four-fifths of the allowance recommended, and that the average intakes of protein and calcium indicated no deficiency in these nutrients. A slightly deficient intake of phosphorus is apparent. The average intake of riboflavin was four-fifths, that of niacin three-fifths, and that of thiamine one-half of the allowances recommended for these vitamins. Pantothenic acid intake was a little less than half the amount suggested as representing adequacy. If the allowances for a sedentary woman are used, for the moderate-income group, the data indicate 80% adequacy in calories, 95% in riboflavin, 75% in niacin, and 68% in thiamine. The increase in calorie intake in the moderate-income group was small in comparison with the increase of the other nutrients with the exception of phosphorus. The reasons for believing that the calorie intakes obtained in the present study emphasize the possibility of a too generous recommended allowance have already been discussed.

It was not possible to determine the nutritional status of the subjects of this study as no one competent to make the necessary physical examinations was available.

Manuscript received 25 August 1943.