Abstract

Background This study aimed to investigate the nutritional status and the adequacy of dietary intake of college students during shipboard internship period.

Methods In this cross-sectional study, data were collected from 25 students who attended an oceanography research seminar at a university located in Jeonbook, South Korea. The dietary intake data were obtained using 12-day dietary recall via smartphone photos during the shipboard internship. Using data on dietary intake, we calculated the macronutrient acceptable distribution range (AMDR), frequency of inadequate intake of the 2020 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRIs) as a reference, intake ratio compared to nutritional adequacy ratio (NAR), mean adequacy ratio (MAR), and index of nutritional quality (INQ).

Results The average BMI for men and women was 25.67 kg/m² and 23.44 kg/m², respectively. The average energy intake for men and women was 2018.66 kcal and 1727.87 kcal, respectively. More than half of the subjects did not meet the inappropriate range of the AMDRs for carbohydrates and fat. Among the 10 nutrients, the NAR for vitamin A, vitamin C, and calcium tended to be lower in both men and women. The MAR were 0.71 and 0.769. On the other hand, in both men and women, vitamin C had the lowest INQ (0.5 and 0.39). For men, grains and potatoes were the main sources of energy and carbohydrates, followed by meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, and fruits as the main sources of calcium. The women's main contributors to energy and carbohydrates were grains and potatoes, but contributions from meat, fish, and eggs were similar; the main contributors to calcium were vegetables and fruits.

Conclusions In order to improve the inadequate nutritional status of college students doing shipboard internships with the goal of pursuing a career as a seafarer, it is necessary to provide additional customized nutritional education.