Abstract
The aim of the current study is to identify the food awareness and preferences of Saudi and non Saudi's patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) at Chest Hospital, Taif, Kingdom Saudi Arabia. The current study showed that the Saudi's patient ages were statistically significantly varied and ranged between 14 and 81 years old with an average of 37.12 years (SD +/- 10.03), whereas the non-Saudi patient ages were lowered (between 14 and 50 years with an average of 27.88 (SD +/- 10.03) years). It could be also found that the education level as well as the nutrition and healthy knowledge were higher among Saudi's patients than that compared with the non-Saudi's patients. Poor eating habits, such as the intake was consisted of only one or two meals, the low intake of high antioxidant foods and vitamins (i.e., fruit and vegetables) and the high intake of high energy foods and soft drinks, were detected among patients, especially in case of non Saudi's patients. It could also observed that there were highly statistically significant differences among the Saudi and non Saudi's patients in the preferences of some specific foods and their consumption amounts. In general detailed studies, related to nutrition and health education, especially in case of chronic disease patinas and how to deal with such status, as well as the nutrients and antioxidants resources and their utilization in nutrition and therapeutic roles, are necessary. [AL-Zahrani Maria, T. and AL-Osaimi Hind, S. Food knowledge and preferences of pulmonary tuberculosis patients at Saudi Arabia "A case study". Life Sci J 2012;9(3):1089-1099]. (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 152