Comparison of dietary patterns and nutrient intakes of elementary schoolchildren living in remote rural and urban areas in Korea: their potential impact on school performance

We compared dietary patterns and nutrient intakes of schoolchildren (7-12 years) in remote rural (RA, n = 318) and urban (UA, n = 349) areas of Korea and analyzed the relationships of these factors with their school performance. School performance was lower in the RA than in the UA, and there was a higher frequency of low family socioeconomic status, stunting, and poor dietary patterns in the RA than in the UA. Average dietary intakes of calories, iron, and niacin in the RA were lower than the Korean recommended dietary allowance or the Canadian-USA dietary reference intake (60%-80%); intakes were close to the recommended values in the UA. Socioeconomic status of family, physical growth, dietary patterns, and nutrient intakes had significantly positive relationships with school performance. Improvements in the school performance of the RA schoolchildren may require the provision of optimal nutrition through good dietary patterns, in addition to the enhancement of family socioeconomic determinants.