The Intake of Taurine and Major Food Source of Taurine in Elementary School Children in Korea

Taurine is a beta-amino acid found most broadly distributed in human body, abundant in animal foods, and has an antioxidative function. Current nutritional intake and dietary habits of children in elementary schools show low level of the intake of vegetable foods and high level of the intake of processed foods and fast foods; this necessitates the emphasis of the intake of antioxidative nutrients for children. On account of the less consumption of vegetable foods as a main source of antioxidative nutrients for elementary school children, animal foods containing abundant amount of taurine can be preferably taken as an alternative foods therefor. Many previous studies have reported the protein intake of the children in elementary schools so far. However, the studies, reported the intake of taurine of elementary school children, are few. Thus, this study analyzed taurine and nutrients intake for children in Daegu, Korea. The average daily energy intake of the children was 153 +/- 155 mg/day. The mean taurine intake values are followed; 27.6 +/- 11.6 mg/day in the Q1 group, 61.2 +/- 10.0 mg/day in the Q2 group, 137.7 +/- 51.1 mg/day in the Q3 group, and 385.9 +/- 123.6 mg/day in the Q4 group (p < .001). Q3 and Q4 groups showed significantly higher level of the intake of vitamin D, vitamin B12, Calcium, and folate than those of Q1 and Q2 groups. In the study, foods that affected the intake of taurine were as followed; fish and shellfish (79%), meat (14%), seaweed (5%), and other food products (2%). As a consequence, Taurine intake appears to be affected by seafood intake, and if seafood is consumed primarily, the amount of energy intake would be appropriate and will contribute to the increase of intakes of taurine, calcium and vitamin D.