[Hungarian Diet and Nutritional Status Survey - the OTAP2009 study. IV. Macroelement intake of the Hungarian population]

The adequate intake of minerals is basically important for healthy nutrition.

AIM AND METHOD

The Hungarian Diet and Nutritional Status Survey - joining to the European Health Interview Survey - studied the dietary habits of the Hungarian population. The present publication describes the macroelement intake.

RESULTS

The salt intake is unusually high (17.2 g in men and 12.0 g in women), the potassium intake remains well below the recommendation. These factors substantially increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases including high blood-pressure. The calcium intake stays below the recommendation except in the youngest males, the oldest men and women are at risk from this point of view. While magnesium intake suited the recommendation, the intake of phosphorus exceeded it twice.

CONCLUSIONS

Focusing on marcroelements, high sodium/salt intake represents the highest public health risk. The implementation of STOP SALT! National Salt Reducing Programme, i.e. decrease the salt content of processed food and provide proper information to the population about excessive salt consumption, should result in a beneficial change of salt intake and ameliorate the public health conditions.

[Hungarian Diet and Nutritional Status Survey -- the OTAP2009 study. V. Intake of microelements in the Hungarian population]

For a healthy status the adequate intake of microelements is vital.

AIM AND METHOD

The Hungarian Diet and Nutritional Status Survey - joining to the European Health Interview Survey - studied the dietary habits of the Hungarian population. The present paper demonstrates the microelement intake.

RESULTS

While the intake of iron, copper and zinc was sufficient in males, it was deficient in females according to the Hungarian recommendations. Especially women in their reproductive age ingested iron below the recommendation, thus representing a health risk. In comparison to earlier Hungarian data, zinc and chromium intake decreased unfavorable.

CONCLUSIONS

Since in Hungary the consumption of the whole grain products with high trace element content is traditionally low, as also reflected in the present study, it would be desirable to increase the contribution of these foods in the diet in order to enhance the intake of microelements.