Using dietary reference intake-based methods to estimate prevalence of inadequate nutrient intake among female students in Brazil

Selection of Target Nutrients for the Nutritional Standards of School Lunches in Korea

The purpose of this study was to select target nutrients to be included in the nutritional standards of school lunches in Korea. The dietary intake data for children and adolescents aged 6–17 years old from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VI were analyzed for eight groups based on gender and age (6–8, 9–11, 12–14, and 15–17 years old). First, the usual intake of 3091 subjects was estimated and assessed to identify nutrients with insufficient or excessive intake prevalence. Along with the nutrients identified by the assessment, the energy and nutrients prioritized in the meal planning procedure of the 2015 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans were the initial candidates; these nutrients and energy include the percentages of energy from carbohydrates, protein, and fat; vitamin A; riboflavin; niacin; vitamin C; calcium; phosphorus; sodium; and iron. Phosphorus was excluded as a result of there being little evidence of clinical symptoms caused by its insufficient intake. Sodium was excluded because reliable data on added salt were not available among the school lunch recipes in Korea. Therefore, energy; the percentages of energy from carbohydrates, protein, and fat; vitamin A; riboflavin; niacin; vitamin C; calcium; and iron were selected to be included in the nutritional standards for school lunches in Korea.

Brazilian studies on zinc deficiency and supplementation: emphasis on children

Abstract Objectives: to review the literature of studies developed in Brazil on zinc deficiency and the effects of supplementation. Methods: a literature review based on bibliographic research was carried out in SciELO, LILACS and MEDLINE/PUBMED databases. A total of 133 studies on zinc deficiency and 116 on the effects of supplementation were identified. Thirty-two articles, 16 of which were observational and 16 interventional, were analyzed. Results: the studies focused mainly on children (75.0% of the observational and 81.25% of the experimental studies). Biochemical deficiency of zinc in children presented great variability, from 0.0% to 74.3%, with expressive prevalence in most studies. Dietary inadequacy among children presented variability from 16.6% to 46.0%. Five from seven studies showed a positive effect of zinc supplementation on micronutrient nutritional status. Conclusions: there is evidence of zinc deficiency in children as a public health problem, preventable through micronutrient supplementation.

Food consumption of sugarcane workers' families in the Brazilian Northeast

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the food intake of sugarcane workers' family members. METHODS: The food intake of 159 family members of sugarcane workers from Gameleira, Pernambuco, Brazilian Northeast, was investigated by directly weighing the foods on three non-consecutive days. The percent risk of inadequate macro- and micronutrient intakes was analyzed according to the Reference Dietary Intakes. The macronutrients were analyzed in relation to acceptable distribution intervals. The energy consumed from the various food groups was expressed as a ratio of the total energy intake. RESULTS: The median intake of carbohydrates and proteins remained above the Estimated Average Requirement, and all age groups presented a low risk of inadequate carbohydrate and protein intakes. The median intakes of riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, and iron remained above the Estimated Average Requirement for all age groups, but children aged 1-3 years presented a high percent risk of inadequate iron intake. All age groups presented high percent risk of inadequate zinc, calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin C intakes. Grains and derivatives had a greater participation in the total energy intake, especially in men aged 19-30 years. The group "milk and dairy products" had a greater participation in the diet of children aged 1-3 years. CONCLUSION: The low percent risk of inadequate carbohydrate and protein intakes in all age groups was opposed to the high risk of inadequate mineral and vitamin intakes, making the population vulnerable to nutritional disorders caused by excess macronutrient intake and inadequate micronutrient intake.

Relação entre o consumo de açúcares de adição e a adequação da dieta de adolescentes residentes no município de São Paulo

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a relação entre o consumo de açúcares de adição e a adequação do consumo de nutrientes e grupos alimentares em adolescentes residentes no município de São Paulo. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 793 adolescentes, provenientes de um estudo de base populacional, realizado em 2003. O consumo alimentar foi medido pelo recordatório de 24 horas, tendo sido aplicado método de ajuste por meio de subamostra de 195 indivíduos. O consumo de açúcares foi categorizado em adequado ou inadequado, quando ≤10% ou >10% do valor energético total da dieta, respectivamente. A adequação de ingestão de macronutrientes considerou intervalos de distribuição aceitável, e a prevalência de inadequação dos micronutrientes foi calculada pelo método Estimated Average Requirement como ponto de corte. O consumo mediano dos alimentos foi estimado além dos percentis 25 e 75. Foram utilizados testes de Qui-quadrado, Wald e mediana, com nível de significância de 5%. RESULTADOS: Identificou-se maior proporção de adolescentes com consumo adequado de carboidratos entre aqueles com maior ingestão de açúcares de adição. Todos os adolescentes apresentaram ingestão proteica dentro dos valores preconizados e verificou-se associação significativa entre a adequação de lipídeos e o consumo de açúcares de adição somente entre os adolescentes do sexo masculino. Maior porção mediana de leite, carnes, frutas, suco industrializado, refrigerante e achocolatado em pó foi identificada entre os adolescentes com consumo excessivo de açúcares de adição. CONCLUSÃO: O consumo excessivo de açúcares de adição se mostrou relacionado à menor adequação do consumo de nutrientes e à menor ingestão de alimentos de alta densidade nutritiva.

Contribution of fish to intakes of micronutrients important for fetal development: a dietary survey of pregnant women in the Republic of Seychelles

OBJECTIVES

To characterise the diets of pregnant women in the Republic of Seychelles and to determine the contribution of fish to intakes of nutrients important for fetal and neonatal development.

DESIGN

Observational, prospective study.

SETTING

Seychelles Child Development Centre, Mahé, Republic of Seychelles.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Pregnant women (n 300) were recruited at their first visit to an antenatal clinic. At 28 weeks' gestation subjects completed a 4 d diet diary (n 273) and intakes were analysed using dietary analysis software.

RESULTS

Mean (sd) energy intake was 9.0 (2.5) MJ/d and fat intakes were higher than UK recommendations for almost two-thirds of the cohort. Fish consumption was lower than in previous surveys, suggesting a move towards a more Westernised diet. Low intakes of a number of nutrients important during pregnancy for fetal development (Fe, Zn, Se and iodine) were observed. However, women who met the current recommendations for these nutrients consumed significantly more fish than those who did not (97 v. 73 g/d).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study highlights the importance of fish in the diet of pregnant Seychellois women for ensuring adequate intakes of micronutrients important in fetal development. Dietary patterns in Seychelles, however, are in a state of transition, with a move towards a Western-style diet as evidenced by higher fat and lower fish intakes. If these dietary trends continue and fish consumption declines further, micronutrient status may be compromised. These findings suggest caution in establishing public health policies that promote limitation of fish intake during pregnancy.

Utilização das recomendações de nutrientes para estimar prevalência de consumo insuficiente das vitaminas C e E em gestantes

Na gestação ocorrem adaptações que conduzem a um aumento da taxa metabólica basal, caracterizando um estado de alto nível de estresse oxidativo, tornando relevante a avaliação do consumo de nutrientes antioxidantes por mulheres grávidas. Este estudo teve como objetivo estimar a prevalência de consumo insuficiente das vitaminas C e E em gestantes assistidas em serviços públicos de saúde. Estudou-se amostra (n=107) representativa das mulheres no segundo trimestre gestacional atendidas durante o pré-natal nas unidades de atenção básica do município de Botucatu/SP. O consumo foi investigado mediante dois inquéritos recordatórios de 24 horas. Para estimar a prevalência de inadequação de consumo na população, foi utilizado o método EAR como ponto de corte. Diferenças de consumo (em tercis) em relação a fatores socioeconômicos, obstétricos e hábitos de vida foram pesquisadas mediante análise estratificada, adotando-se p<0.05 como nível de significância. As prevalências estimadas de consumo insuficiente das vitaminas C e E foram 60% e 91,5%, respectivamente. Houve associação inversa entre o consumo de vitamina E com paridade e o consumo de vitamina C foi menor nas adolescentes em relação às adultas. Estes resultados indicam a necessidade de intervenções individuais e coletivas de promoção e apoio ao consumo de alimentação saudável por mulheres em idade fértil. Conclui-se que a prevalência de inadequação do consumo das vitaminas C e E é elevada e sem contrastes socioeconômicos.