Question

Lydia S. is a 42-year-old British woman who recently moved to the United States. She smokes a half pack of cigarettes a day. She is 64 inches tall, weighs 185 pounds, and has a family history of heart disease. Her diet is high in protein, mostly from beef and chicken. She dislikes most vegetables except corn and potatoes. She eats fruit only occasionally and often skips breakfast. After taking a nutrition class at a local community college, Lydia is concerned that her diet may be deficient in folate and vitamin C. When she looks at the Nutrition Facts for some foods in her pantry, this is what she finds:

Instant Breakfast EssentialsÔ powder, 1 packet: 50% vitamin C, 25% folate

Ovaltine^Ò drink mix, 2 T: 10% vitamin C, 0% folate

Raisin Bran^Ò cereal, 1 cup: 0% vitamin C, 25% folate

Toasted oats cereal, 1 cup: 10% vitamin C, 50% folate

- Lydia learned in class that 400 micrograms provides 100% of the Daily Value for folate. Show

         how she can calculate the amount of folate in each of these foods. Then, show how Lydia can

use the found in the Calculation Corner of chapter 10 (pg. 381) to calculate the dietary folate equivalents (DFE) for each of these fortified foods.

- Lydia also learned that 60 milligrams provides 100% of the Daily Value for vitamin C. Show how

         she can calculate the amount of vitamin C in each of these foods.

- Based on her current diet, which food group is most likely the primary source of folate in Lydia’s

         diet? What explains the high amount of folate in these foods?

- Considering her current diet and lifestyle habits, why might Lydia need extra vitamin C in her

         diet?

- Even if she were to achieve 100% of the Daily Value for vitamin C from the fortified foods in her

         pantry, what are some reasons that Lydia should still consider increasing her intake of fresh

         fruits and vegetables?

- Based on her family history, why is it important for Lydia to get an adequate amount of folate in

         her daily diet?

- Show how Lydia might combine the foods in her pantry with some of the foods listed in Figure

         10-25 and Figure 10.33 to plan one day of meals that meet her requirements for dietary folate

         equivalents (DFE) and vitamin C.

- What might be her reasons not to continue taking this supplement?

Answer 1

Here we are discussing the case study of Lydia, who is 42 years old, 64 inches tall, 185 pounds of weight.

She has a family history of heart disease.

Lifestyle: Cigarette smoking(Smokes a half pack of cigarettes a day

Food habits: Nonvegetarian and likes beef and chicken, corns and potatoes

Her present diet plan:

Instant Breakfast Essentials powder, 1 packet: 50% vitamin C, 25% folate

Ovaltine drink mix, 2 T: 10% vitamin C, 0% folate

Raisin Bran cereal, 1 cup: 0% vitamin C, 25% folate

Toasted oats cereal, 1 cup: 10% vitamin C, 50% folate

1. Dietary folate equivalents (DFE):

* Instant Breakfast Essentials powder, 1 packet: 25% folate, here there is not any naturally occurring folate

* Ovaltine drink mix, 2 T, 0% folate

Here it's given that Ovalate drink contains 0% folate and additionally does not have any folate content

* Raisin Bran cereal, 1 cup, 25% Daily Value (DV) folate, thus we can say that it contains 100 mcg of folate

* Toasted oats cereal, 1 cup: 10% vitamin C, 50% Daily Value of folate, thus we can that it contains 200mcg of folate

Thus we can say that the total Dietary Folate Equivalents (DFE) = 100 mcg + 0mcg +100mcg +200mcg

=400mcg

2. Vitamin C

*Instant Breakfast Essentials powder, 1 packet: 50% vitamin C

Thus we can calculate it as 50 x60/100 = 30mg

*Ovaltine drink mix, 2 T: 10% vitamin C

Thus we can calculate it as 10 x 60/100

=6mg

*Raisin Bran cereal, 1 cup: 0% vitamin C, contains no vitamin C

Toasted oats cereal, 1 cup: 10% vitamin C

Thus we can calculate it as 10 x 60/100

=6mg

Then the total Vitamin C is = 30 + 6 + 6

=42mg

3. In the present scenario, the primary source of folate in Lydia diet is from toasted oats cereal.

Cereals are fortified grains and are most of the cereals are rich in folic acid

4.  Considering her current diet and lifestyle habits, she is having the daily consumption of vitamin c is 42mg and the recommended range is 60 mg, she lacks vitamin c.

Vitamin c is needed to repairs tissues and maintains bone and teeth, absorption of iron, and synthesizes of neurotransmitters.

5. From the fortified food itself she cannot be able to achieve 100% of vitamin C. For achieving the target limit she has to consume more fruits and vegetables in raw form. Vitamin C is abundantly present in fresh fruits and vegetables.

6. Ms.Lydia has a family history of heart disease and she may be a risk for getting the cardiac disease. By maintaining a recommended allowance of folate in her daily life thus reduces her chance of getting heart disease.