Journal of Agriculture & Life Sciences

Evaluation of the Nutrient and Energy Adequacy on the Diet of Forest Workers in Brazil
D.Sc. Luciano José MINETTE, M.Sc. Stanley SCHETTINO, D.Sc. Amaury Paulo de SOUZA, Ms. Anna Carolina Minetti CAMARINHA

Abstract
Forest works are carried out, in a big part of Brazil, in a manual or semi-mechanized form. These activities are very exhaustive for workers and result in high-energy expenditure and nutritional requirements. Adequate nutrition is a basic factor for health and the performance of work activities and the daily food intake should be sufficient to attend the metabolic needs of the body. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the adequacy of the diet provided to forest workers with the requirements of nutrient and energy adequacy recommended by the National Research Council - NRC of the United States of America, being developed with forest workers employees of a paper and cellulose manufacturer. The methods of recall survey and the direct weighing of food were used, since the feeding of workers is performed partly in their home and partly in the company. The calculation of the energy needs of the workers with work activities was based on maximal aerobic capacity. There was a daily intake of 3,067.2 Kcal, compared to a need of 3,600.2 Kcal, indicating the need for changes in the current food scheme, inefficient to attend the nutritional needs of the workers. In relation to nutritional intake, an adequacy superior to 100% was found for some nutrients, such as phosphorus, iron, thiamine, niacin, vitamin B6 and vitamin E, although the intakes of vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium and riboflavin have been presented smaller that the recommended values.

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