Dietary intakes among Turkish adolescent girls

The aim of this study was to obtain data about the nutritional intake of adolescent girls from Edirne, Turkey. In a sample of 940 healthy adolescent girls aged between 12 and 17 years, intake of macronutrients and micronutrients was assessed from 3-day self-reported food records. In general, macronutrient intake was found to be adequate whereas micronutrient intake was lower than the recommended dietary allowance (RDA). The percentage of energy distribution of the subjects derived from carbohydrates, proteins, and fats was 53.6%, 10.9%, and 35.5%, respectively. Compared with the RDA, reported intakes of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, and fiber were most likely to be inadequate; those of folic acid and potassium were adequate; and those of vitamins A and C were well above. Adolescent girls living in the rural area consumed lower amounts of energy, carbohydrate, protein, niacin, folic acid, vitamin C, and sodium and higher amounts of thiamin compared with those living in the urban area. Based on the findings of this study, a preventive nutritional concept for Turkish adolescent girls was proposed.