Inadequate intakes of dietary zinc among pregnant women from subsistence households in Sidama, Southern Ethiopia

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of zinc inadequacy based on dietary intakes and plasma zinc concentrations and, simultaneously, the prevalence of inadequate intakes of energy, protein, calcium and iron. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of subsistence farming households in Sidama, Southern Ethiopia. SUBJECTS: Dietary intakes were calculated from 1-day weighed food records and 40 repeats from 99 pregnant women in the third trimester using analysed values of major staple foods for zinc, iron, calcium and phytate. The distribution of observed intakes was adjusted for usual intakes and the prevalence of inadequacy estimated using the estimated average requirement (EAR) cutpoint method. Prevalence of inadequacy for zinc, protein and iron intakes were compared with those based on biochemical measures. RESULTS: Prevalence of zinc inadequacy was very high: 99% for US FNB EAR and 100% for IZiNCG EAR compared to 72% based on low plasma zinc concentrations. Corresponding prevalence estimates for iron were much lower: 4% for inadequate intakes based on US FNB EAR vs. 8.7% for iron deficiency anaemia (haemoglobin < 110 g l-1; ferritin < 12 microg l-1) and 32.3% for low storage iron. Prevalence of inadequacy for protein was 100% for adjusted intakes and 91% for serum albumin < 32 g l-1. For calcium, 74% were at risk for inadequate intakes. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of inadequate intakes of zinc and protein was reasonably consistent with those based on biochemical measures. Such dietary deficits could be overcome by regular consumption of cellular animal protein. In contrast, both dietary and biochemical measures of iron inadequacy were low.     

Assessment of intake inadequacy and food sources of zinc of people in China

OBJECTIVES: To assess the intake inadequacy and food sources of zinc of people in China. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: Diets of 68 962 subjects aged 2-101 years (urban 21 103, rural 47,859) in the 2002 China National Nutrition and Health Survey were analysed. Dietary intake was assessed using 24-hour recall for three consecutive days. Zinc intake inadequacy was calculated based on values suggested by the World Health Organization. RESULTS: The median zinc intake ranged from 4.9 mg day- 1 (urban girls, 2-3 years) to 11.9 mg day-1 (rural males, 19+ years). The zinc density of urban residents (2-3 to 19+ years) was 5.0-5.3 mg day-1 (1000 kcal)-1, significantly higher than that of their rural counterparts (4.7-4.8 mg day-1 (1000 kcal)-1). Differences in food sources of zinc from cereal grains (27.4-45.1 vs. 51.6-63.2%) and animal foods (28.4-54.8 vs. 16.8-30.6%) were found between urban and rural residents. Zinc from vegetables and fruits (8.2-13.8 vs. 9.7-12.4%) and legumes (1.3-3.3 vs. 2.5-3.4%) was comparable between urban and rural residents. The proportion of zinc intake inadequacy ranged between 2.8% (urban females, 19+ years) and 29.4% (rural lactating women). Rural residents had higher proportions of zinc intake inadequacy than their urban counterparts. Significantly higher proportions of zinc inadequacy were found in the category of phytate/zinc molar ratio >15 for both rural and urban residents. CONCLUSIONS: About 20% of rural children are at risk of inadequate zinc intake, with phytate as a potential important inhibitor. Moreover, lactating women are also considered a vulnerable group.     

Efficacy and safety of food fortification with calcium among adults in Finland

OBJECTIVE: To examine the efficacy and safety of foods fortified with calcium in the adult population in Finland. DESIGN: A simulation study based on the FINDIET 2002 Survey, which estimated habitual food consumption, dietary supplement use and nutrient intakes using 48-hour recall and two 3-day food records, and an Internet survey of the consumption of fortified foods and dietary supplements. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Participants of FINDIET 2002 were 25-64 years old from five areas (n = 2007). Participants of the Internet-based survey (n = 1537) were over 15 years of age from all over the country. RESULTS: If all potentially fortifiable foods were to be fortified with calcium, the proportion of participants with calcium intake below the recommended level (< 800 mg day(-1)) would decrease from 20.3% to 3.0% in men and from 27.8% to 5.6% in women compared with the situation where no foods were fortified. At the same time, the proportion of participants with calcium intake above the tolerable upper intake level (UL, > 2500 mg day(-1)) would increase from 0.6% to 12.7% in men and from 0.1% to 3.8% in women. However, in a probability-based model (11% of all fortifiable foods to be fortified with calcium) the proportion of participants with calcium intake below the recommended level would be 15.7% in men and 23.2% in women. The proportion with intake above the UL in this model would be 1.2% in men and 0.7% in women. CONCLUSIONS: Food fortification would be a relatively effective and safe way to increase the calcium intake of the Finnish adult population.     

Unique patterns of dietary adequacy in three cultures of Canadian Arctic indigenous peoples

BACKGROUND: Information is needed on dietary adequacy of Arctic indigenous populations in Canada. Extensive work has been completed on composition of Arctic food and food use, and dietary reference intakes are available. OBJECTIVE: To complete the first comprehensive dietary adequacy assessment of three populations of adult Arctic indigenous people. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: Dietary assessment interviews were conducted with randomly selected indigenous adults during two seasons in 44 representative communities of Yukon First Nations (n = 797), Dene/Métis, (n = 1007) and Inuit (n = 1525). METHODS: Twenty-four-hour recalls were used to derive adjusted distributions of usual nutrient intakes in four age/gender groups for assessment of dietary adequacy for carbohydrate, dietary fibre, protein, n-3 fatty acids, n-6 fatty acids, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, zinc, vitamin A, riboflavin, folate, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin D and vitamin E. RESULTS: Nutrients with high prevalence of adequacy for most age/gender groups in all three cultures were protein, carbohydrate, n-3 fatty acids, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, selenium, riboflavin and vitamin B6; some individuals exceeded the upper intake level for iron, zinc, selenium, vitamin A and vitamin D. Estimated average requirement nutrients of concern for adequacy were magnesium, folate, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E; however, a few age/gender groups were exceptions. Prevalence of inadequacy for AI nutrients which may be undesirably high were fibre, n-6 fatty acids and calcium. Vitamin D was more adequate in Inuit women and men than for Yukon First Nations or Dene/Métis. CONCLUSIONS: Unique patterns of dietary adequacy exist among Arctic indigenous peoples. Local wildlife food sources and market food sources should be maximised for their nutrient contributions to Arctic diets.     

Impact of parental education and income inequality on children's food intake

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the association between socio-economic indicators and diet among 2-year-old children, by assessing the independent contribution of parental education and equivalent income to food intake. DESIGN: The analysis was based on data from a prospective birth cohort study. Information on diet was obtained using a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. Low and high intake of food was defined according to the lowest and the highest quintile of food consumption frequency, respectively. SETTING: Four German cities (Munich, Leipzig, Wesel, Bad Honnef), 1999-2001.Subjects Subjects were 2637 children at the age of 2 years, whose parents completed questionnaires gathering information on lifestyle factors, including parental socio-economic status, household consumption frequencies and children's diet. RESULTS: Both low parental education and low equivalent income were associated with a low intake of fresh fruit, cooked vegetables and olive oil, and a high intake of canned vegetables or fruit, margarine, mayonnaise and processed salad dressing in children. Children with a low intake of milk and cream, and a high intake of hardened vegetable fat, more likely had parents with lower education. Low butter intake was associated with low equivalent income only. CONCLUSIONS: These findings may be helpful for future intervention programmes with more targeted policies aiming at an improvement of children's diets.     

Intake and food sources of nitrites and N-nitrosodimethylamine in Spain

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a comprehensive assessment of dietary intakes of nitrites and N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). SUBJECTS AND SETTING: A study was conducted within the Spanish cohort of the European Prospective Investigation in Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) to assess the intake and food sources of these compounds in Spanish adults. The study included 41,446 health volunteers, aged 29-69 years, from Northern and Southern regions. Usual food intake was estimated by in-person interviews using a computerised dietary questionnaire. RESULTS: The estimated geometric mean was 0.994 mg day(-1) for nitrites and 0.114 microg day(-1) for NDMA. For both compounds a positive trend in consumption with increasing energy intake was observed. Dietary NDMA was related to age and sex after energy adjustment, while nitrite consumption increased with higher intakes of vitamin C (P < 0.001). The food groups that contributed most to intakes were meat products, cereals, vegetables and fruits for nitrites, and processed meat, beer, cheese and broiled fish for NDMA. Current and past smokers, who had high levels of NDMA from tobacco exposure, were also identified as the highest consumers of dietary NDMA. Furthermore, smokers had low intakes of vitamin C (an inhibitor of endogenous nitrosation). CONCLUSIONS: Intake levels of NDMA and nitrites in a Mediterranean cohort are currently relatively lower than those previously reported, although processed meat, beer and cured cheese still are the most important contributors to NDMA intake.     

Validation of a pre-coded food diary used among 13-year-olds: comparison of energy intake with energy expenditure

OBJECTIVE: To validate energy intake (EI) estimated from pre-coded food diaries against energy expenditure (EE) measured with a validated position-and-movement monitor (ActiReg) in groups of 13-year-old Norwegian schoolchildren. DESIGN: Two studies were conducted. In study 1 the monitoring period was 4 days; participants recorded their food intake for four consecutive weekdays using food diaries and wore the ActiReg during the same period. In study 2 the monitoring period was 7 days; participants recorded their food intake for four consecutive days but wore the ActiReg for a whole week.Settings: Participants were recruited from grade 8 in a school in and one outside Oslo (Norway).Subjects: Forty-one and 31 participants from study 1 and 2, respectively, completed the study. RESULTS: The group average EI was 34% lower than the measured EE in study 1 and 24% lower in study 2. The width of the 95% confidence limits of agreement in a Bland-Altman plot for EI and EE varied from -0.2 MJ to 8.2 MJ in study 1 and from -2.3 MJ to 6.9 MJ in study 2. The Pearson correlation coefficients between reported energy intake and expenditure were 0.47 (P=0.002) in study 1 and 0.74 (P<0.001) in study 2. CONCLUSION: The data showed that there was substantial variability in the accuracy of the food diary at the individual level. Furthermore, the diary underestimated the average energy intake. The ability of the food diary to rank individuals according to energy intake was found to be good in one of the studies and moderate in the other.     

Adaptation and evaluation of the National Cancer Institute's Diet History Questionnaire and nutrient database for Canadian populations

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Despite assumed similarities in Canadian and US dietary habits, some differences in food availability and nutrient fortification exist. Food-frequency questionnaires designed for the USA may therefore not provide the most accurate estimates of dietary intake in Canadian populations. Hence, we undertook to evaluate and modify the National Cancer Institute's Diet History Questionnaire (DHQ) and nutrient database. METHODS: Of the foods queried on the DHQ, those most likely to differ in nutrient composition were identified. Where possible these foods were matched to comparable foods in the Canadian Nutrient File. Nutrient values were examined and modified to reflect the Canadian content of minerals (calcium, iron, zinc) and vitamins (A, C, D, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B6, folate and B12). DHQs completed by 13 181 Alberta Cohort Study participants aged 35-69 years were analysed to estimate nutrient intakes using the original US and modified versions of the DHQ databases. Misclassification of intake for meeting the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) was determined following analysis with the US nutrient database. RESULTS: Twenty-five per cent of 2411 foods deemed most likely to differ in nutrient profile were subsequently modified for folate, 11% for vitamin D, 10% for calcium and riboflavin, and between 7 and 10% for the remaining nutrients of interest. Misclassification with respect to meeting the DRI varied but was highest for folate (7%) and vitamin A (7%) among men, and for vitamin D (7%) among women over 50 years of age. CONCLUSIOn: Errors in nutrient intake estimates owing to differences in food fortification between the USA and Canada can be reduced in Canadian populations by using nutrient databases that reflect Canadian fortification practices.     

Beyond-brand effect of television food advertisements on food choice in children: the effects of weight status

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of television food advertising on children's food intake, specifically whether childhood obesity is related to a greater susceptibility to food promotion. DESIGN: The study was a within-subject, counterbalanced design. The children were tested on two occasions separated by two weeks. One condition involved the children viewing food advertisements followed by a cartoon, in the other condition the children viewed non-food adverts followed by the same cartoon. Following the cartoon, their food intake and choice was assessed in a standard paradigm. SETTING: The study was conducted in Liverpool, UK. SUBJECTS: Fifty-nine children (32 male, 27 female) aged 9-11 years were recruited from a UK school to participate in the study. Thirty-three children were normal-weight (NW), 15 overweight (OW) and 11 obese (OB). RESULTS: Exposure to food adverts produced substantial and significant increases in energy intake in all children (P < 0.001). The increase in intake was largest in the obese children (P = 0.04). All children increased their consumption of high-fat and/or sweet energy-dense snacks in response to the adverts (P < 0.001). In the food advert condition, total intake and the intake of these specific snack items correlated with the children's modified age- and gender-specific body mass index score. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that obese and overweight children are indeed more responsive to food promotion, which specifically stimulates the intake of energy-dense snacks.     

A Monte Carlo simulation to validate the EAR cut-point method for assessing the prevalence of nutrient inadequacy at the population level

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to validate the EAR cut-point method for assessing the prevalence of nutrient inadequacy at the population level. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: Different methods for estimating the prevalence of inadequate intake were compared: the cut-off point method, with cut-off points at the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), 0.66 RDA, 0.50 RDA and the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR); the probability approach; and a Monte Carlo simulation. In total, 591 men and 674 women, aged 20-55 years, were included in the analyses. RESULTS: The prevalence of inadequate intake as estimated by the EAR cut-point method was similar to the prevalence of inadequacy estimated by both probabilistic methods. The cut-point method with RDA, 0.66 RDA and 0.50 RDA as cut-off limits induced an over- or an underestimation of the real prevalence of inadequacy. CONCLUSIONS: Probabilistic methods consider both the intake variability and the requirement variability, and, as a result, their estimation should be closer to the real prevalence of inadequacy. The use of the EAR cut-point method yields a good estimation of the prevalence of inadequate intake, comparable to the probability approach, and limits over- and underestimation of the prevalence induced by other cut-off points.     

Improving the nutritional status of food-insecure women: first, let them eat what they like

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent to which identified nutrient inadequacies in the dietary intakes of a sample of food-insecure women could be ameliorated by increasing their access to the 'healthy' foods they typically eat. DESIGN: Merged datasets of 226 food-insecure women who provided at least three 24-hour dietary intake recalls over the course of a month. Dietary modelling, with energy adjustment for severe food insecurity, explored the effect of adding a serving of the woman's own, and the group's typically chosen, nutrient-rich foods on the estimated prevalence of nutrient inadequacy. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: One study included participants residing in 22 diverse community clusters from the Atlantic Provinces of Canada, and the second study included food bank attendees in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Of the 226 participants, 78% lived alone with their children. RESULTS: While nutritional vulnerability remained after modelling, adding a single serving of either typically chosen 'healthy' foods from women's own diets or healthy food choices normative to the population reduced the prevalence of inadequacy by at least half for most nutrients. Correction for energy deficits resulting from severe food insecurity contributed a mean additional 20% improvement in nutrient intakes. CONCLUSIONS: Food-insecure women would sustain substantive nutritional gains if they had greater access to their personal healthy food preferences and if the dietary compromises associated with severe food insecurity were abated. Increased resources to access such choices should be a priority.     

Efficacy of a community-based dietary intervention to enhance micronutrient adequacy of high-phytate maize-based diets of rural Malawian children

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a community-based dietary intervention to reduce risk of micronutrient inadequacies in high-phytate maize-based Malawian diets. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental post-test design with a non-equivalent control group. SETTING: Four villages in Mangochi District, Southern Malawi. PARTICIPANTS: Households with children aged 3-7 years in two intervention (n = 200) and two control (n = 81) villages participated in a 6-month intervention employing dietary diversification, changes in food selection patterns, and modifications to food processing to reduce the phytate content of maize-based diets. Baseline comparability between the groups was confirmed via assessment of sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometry, knowledge and practices, morbidity, haemoglobin and hair zinc. After 12 months, knowledge and practices and dietary intakes were assessed by interactive 24-hour recalls, one during the food plenty and a second during the food shortage season. Nutrient adequacy for the two groups was compared via dietary quality indicators and predicted prevalence of inadequate intakes using the probability approach. RESULTS: Intervention children had diets that were significantly more diverse and of a higher quality than those of controls. Median daily intakes of protein, calcium, zinc (total and available), haem iron, vitamin B12 and animal foods (grams; % of total energy) were higher (P < 0.05) whereas phytate intakes, phytate/zinc and phytate/iron molar ratios were lower (P < 0.01) in the intervention group; some spread of knowledge and practices to controls occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Our community-based dietary strategies reduced the predicted prevalence of inadequate intakes of protein, calcium, zinc and vitamin B12, but not iron, in children from Malawian households with very limited resources.     

Dietary intake and body mass index in HIV-positive and HIV-negative drug abusers of Hispanic ethnicity

OBJECTIVE: Malnutrition in drug abusers has been attributed to poor diet. However, previous studies are conflicting. Many studies have not considered possible concurrent HIV disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between drug abuse and dietary intake in Hispanic Americans with and without HIV infection. DESIGN: Dietary intake was measured using 3-day food records and 24-hour dietary recalls in three groups: HIV-positive drug abusers, HIV-negative drug abusers and HIV-positive persons who do not use drugs ('non-drug abusers'). SETTING: The baseline data from a prospective cohort study of the role of drug abuse in HIV/AIDS weight loss and malnutrition conducted in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. SUBJECTS: The first 284 participants to enroll in the study. RESULTS: HIV-positive drug abusers had a body mass index (BMI) that was significantly lower than that of HIV-positive non-drug abusers. Reported energy, fat and fibre intakes did not differ between groups. All groups had median reported intakes of vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, selenium and zinc that were in excess of the dietary reference values (DRI). Intakes of alpha-tocopherol were below the DRI, but did not differ from intakes of the general US population. However, increasing levels of drug abuse were associated with lower reported intakes of vitamin B6, vitamin B12, selenium and zinc. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this study does not support the notion that dietary intake can explain the lower BMI of HIV-positive drug abusers. Further studies examining non-dietary determinants of nutritional status in drug abusers are warranted.     

Core subsets of base collections and priorities of national programmes: Indian perspective

Summary The establishment of representative core collections and back-up reserve collections was proposed to facilitate effective management and to promote utilization of large base collections. The priorities of the developing national PGR programmes, in the organization of components of their base collections, are different from those of IARCs since the strengths as well as limitations of the two systems vary. Unlike most IARCs, national programmes have the option of networking their active collections, maintained at several eco-sites, and linking this network to the base collection kept under long-term storage. This keeps open the option to develop situation-specific subsets for an effective germplasm utilization. There is a pressing need for a scientific re-examination of the concept of germplasm core in order better to apply it in developing core subsets in the national PGR programmes. The formulation of situation-specific subsets is advocated, as the system would be directed to users' requirements or addressed to gene bank managers' resource constraints. Arguments given in favour of developing core subsets, rather than a single core are: (i) logical; (ii) population genetic; and (iii) germplasm usage considerations. The Indian PGR programme and the emerging core context are briefly discussed, along with features of a programme designed to develop such core subsets.Abbreviations IARCs = International Agriculture Research Centers - NBPGR = National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources - NAGS = National Active Germplasm Collection Site - NGSNs = National Germplasm Screening Nurseries - GACs = Germplasm Advisory Committees     

Biofortification of Trace Elements in Food Crops for Human Health

Micronutrient deficiencies have been reported in food crops worldwide. Several macro- and micronutrients are essential for human health. However, among these elements, the trace elements zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), iodine (I), selenium (Se), and cobalt (Co) are limiting in the diets of much of the world's population. According to United Nations estimates, about 1 billion people, especially woman and children, are suffering from malnutrition of trace elements, especially in Africa, Asia, and South America. Improving bioavailability of these elements in food crops is an important strategy to overcome trace-element deficiencies in food crops and improving human health. Genetic variability in micronutrient contents in the grain of crops such as rice, corn, wheat, barley, soybean, and dry bean is widely reported in the literature. Hence, use of genetic variability among crop species and genotypes within species is an important strategy to achieve biofortification of grain of staple food crops. Other practices that can be adopted to improve bioavailability of essential elements in food crops are adopting appropriate agronomic practices, such as adequate rate, effective sources, and effective methods of fertilizer application. Use of biotechnology is also feasible to biofortification of staple food crops. Planting indigenous and traditional food crop species with high nutritive value is another important strategy to improve trace elements in human food.     

The contribution of school meals to food consumption and nutrient intakes of young people aged 4-18 years in England

OBJECTIVES: To undertake secondary analyses of the 1997 National Diet and Nutrition Survey of Young People aged 4-18 years in order to describe the contribution of school meals to daily food and nutrient intakes; and to compare the findings from 1997 with data collected in English primary and secondary schools in 2004-2005. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of 7-day weighed inventory food consumption data according to age, sex, household income, free school meals and breakfast consumption. Comparison of food consumption with the Balance of Good Health and of nutrient intake data with the Caroline Walker Trust (CWT) guidelines. SETTING: United Kingdom. SUBJECTS: One thousand four hundred and fifty-six UK schoolchildren aged 4-18 years, 7058 English primary-school pupils and 5695 English secondary-school pupils. RESULTS: Pupils' school meal choices in 1997 did not accord with the Balance of Good Health. Food choices in school were less healthy than choices outside school. School meals failed to make good the shortfalls in daily intakes of non-starch polysaccharides and zinc in primary-school pupils, and of calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin A and non-starch polysaccharides in secondary-school pupils, nor excess daily intakes of saturated fatty acids, non-milk extrinsic sugars and sodium at all ages. School meals typically failed to meet CWT guidelines. They were more likely to meet CWT guidelines when choice of foods was restricted. CONCLUSIONS: School meals need substantial improvement to meet CWT guidelines for healthy eating. The introduction of food-based guidelines for school meals in England in 2001 did not improve the food choices in school meals.     

Food consumption patterns in an adult urban population in Beirut, Lebanon

OBJECTIVES: To investigate, measure and assess the food consumption pattern of the adult population living in Beirut, Lebanon, and to identify inadequate or excessive intake of food groups particularly linked to non-communicable diseases. DESIGN: A cross-sectional food consumption survey was conducted in 2001. Dietary habits were assessed by means of a quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. SETTING: Dietary survey of the urban population (Beirut). SUBJECTS: Random sample of 444 adult subjects (aged 25-54 years) in Beirut. RESULTS: The mean consumption of food by the study population was estimated to be 3,030 g day(-1), providing an energy intake of 2,523.57 kcal day(-1). Fat contributed 38.9% to the average daily energy intake, protein 13.4% and carbohydrates 47.2%. Mean consumption of fruits and vegetables was approximately 367 g day(-1) and 45.3% of subjects consumed less than the recommended 400 g daily. Cereals contributed 324.5 g day(-1), providing 35.0% of daily energy intake, with bread being the most highly consumed (146.2 g day(-1)) in this food group. The mean intake of meat and poultry products was 91.7 g day(-1) and provided 8.8% of daily energy intake, with consumption of butchery products especially beef being the highest (47.6 g day(-1)) followed by poultry (36.1 g day(-1)). A low consumption of fish was noted (19.7 g day(-1)), with 73.6% of subjects consuming less than the recommended 2 servings of fish per week. Dairy products contributed 243.1 g day(-1) or 10.9% of daily energy intake, and milk was the least consumed dairy product (56.8% of consumers). The intake of added fats and oils, excluding those in cooked recipes, was 20.4 g day(-1); olive oil was not used in cooking but was added solely at the table and its mean intake was 5 g day(-1). The consumption of butter was low (0.86 g day(-1)) and vegetable oil was the type of fat mostly used in cooking. The average intake of alcoholic beverages was low (33.6 g day(-1)), accounting for 0.7% of total energy intake. Women had significantly higher intakes of milk, dairy products, vegetables and coffee than men (P < 0.05). The percentage of women who reported the use of low-fat items was significantly higher than that of men. Younger people (25-34 years) ate significantly more meat, sugar, alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, and consumed significantly less cooked vegetables and legumes, than older ones (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The rather high contribution of fat to daily energy intake, the low intake of fish and the relatively high percentage of people consuming less than the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables observed in this study suggest that the adult Lebanese population is at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, obesity and other non-communicable diseases, which provides the basis for recommending increased intakes of fish, particularly fatty fish, and fruits and vegetables.     

Effects of revision of Japanese food composition tables on estimation of nutrient intakes, with reference to age-dependent differences

OBJECTIVE: To identify effects of revision of the Japanese food composition tables from the fourth version to the fifth version on nutrient intake estimation. DESIGN: A database on 783 samples of 24-hour food duplicate portions was re-visited. Nutrients in the duplicate portions were estimated by use of the fourth and fifth versions of the Japanese food composition tables in parallel, together with supplemental use of other databases. The two sets of estimates were subjected to comparison. SETTING: The sample collection was conducted at 31 sites all over Japan. SUBJECTS: The sample donors were 783 women aged 20-78 years. RESULTS: Compared with the estimates by use of the fourth version of the tables, the estimates by the fifth version were substantially higher for intakes of energy, carbohydrate, dietary fibre, vitamin A and niacin, and lower for iron intake. The increase in carbohydrate intake estimates was more evident in older women than in young women, whereas the decrease in the intake estimation of iron and the increase in that of dietary fibre were more marked in young women than in older women. CONCLUSION: The recent revision of food composition tables in Japan induced substantial changes in the estimation of nutrient intakes, i.e. an increase in energy, carbohydrate, dietary fibre, vitamin A and niacin, and a decrease in iron. The extent of the changes varied depending on age.