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Food intake, its relationship to body weight and age, and its apparent nutritional adequacy in New Guinean children.

Previous nutritional investigations in New Guinea have shown low intakes of protein and of energy yet the nutritional status of children and their ability to thrive have been regarded as better than could be expected. To investigate this apparent paradox, the dietary intakes of 482 New Guinean children, aged 1-18 years, living in two contrasting environments near the coast (Kaul) and in a highland region (Lufa) were determined by a weighed individual inventory method over 5-7 consecutive days. Body weights and skinfold thicknesses were lower than those of European children of comparable ages. These findings are to be reported and discussed more fully in a separate publication. Roots and tubers provided most of the energy and protein in the bulky, vegetable diets. The contribution of foods bought in local trade stores was higher than has previously been reported. Fat intakes were low, supplying 17% of the dietary energy in Kaul and 10% in Lufa. Protein intakes were similarly low, representing only 6% of dietary energy. The chemical scores of the protein calculated using the latest suggested amino acid scoring pattern (FAO/WHO, 1973) were high, 75-95. Using the previous pattern, these were 57-64. The adequacy of the energy and protein contents of individual diets was assessed using the FAO/WHO (1973) standards. An energy deficit was more common than a protein deficit. A considerable proportion of the children (42% in Kaul and 20% in Lufa) had dietary intakes which were apparently deficient in energy or protein, but this finding did not correspond to other signs of undernutrition. This suggests that current standards may still be set too high for some groups or that adaptations to suboptimal dietary intakes occur that are not disclosed by the usual techniques of assessing nutritional status.