Development of amino acid composition database for Korean foods

To provide true and correct information on diet and health for consumers, a 5-year project for nutrient database was started in 2001. Food list representing usual diet of Koreans was developed using the result of the 2001 National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHNS) and 2002 Seasonal Nutrition Survey. Based on the food intake data obtained from 1-day 24-h recall interviews, a food list of 150 representative food items for chemical analysis was formulated considering the amount and frequency of consumption, dietary pattern differences by sex and age class, and probable high content of protein. Foods were purchased in triplicates considering the area of production or the best-selling brands for processed foods. Then foods were analyzed for amino acids using HPLC. As a result, amino acid composition of 150 food items for 18 kinds was constructed into a database. This database is expected to contribute toward achieving health goals stated in the ‘Health Plan 2010’ by allowing informed-consumers decide and choose foods based on the recent, updated and correct nutrient composition of foods to accommodate their own needs.