Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the contributions of macronutrients to the total energy intakes and Body Mass Indices (BMI, kg/m2) of Korean women.
Methods: We used dietary records data from 115 healthy Korean women, ages 20 and over, who completed four 3-day dietary records between February 2003 and March 2004. For the calculation of nutrients we used a dietary assessment program developed by the Korean Nutritional Society. Macronutrient intakes were estimated by averaging individual total daily intakes in four 3-day dietary records. Subjects were categorized into three Body Mass Index (BMI) groups: underweight (BMI < 20), normal (20 < or = BMI < 25), and overweight (BMI > or = 25) group.
Results: The total energy intakes were not different among the three BMI groups. Similarly, other macronutrient intakes such as protein, fat, carbohydrate, vegetable protein, animal protein, saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids were not different. From the multivariate nutrient density model, substituting polyunsaturated fatty acid for carbohydrate was positively associated with BMI in women aged 20 to 49 (beta = 2.31, p < 0.01). In women aged 50 and over, substituting animal protein for carbohydrate was positively associated with BMI (beta = 0.549, p = 0.04).
Conclusions: No single macronutrient was associated with BMI when all subjects were combined. However, when stratified by age, polyunsaturated fatty acid intake in younger women, and animal protein intake in older women, were positively associated with BMI. In the future, we recommend a larger study to confirm these results.