Dietary polyphenol intake in the Canadian population: Findings from the 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey-Nutrition

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to estimate usual polyphenol intake among Canadians using the nationally representative 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey-Nutrition and to explore the main dietary contributors to polyphenol intake and the sociodemographic and lifestyle factors that may impact polyphenol intake.

METHODS

Dietary information was collected from 19,409 respondents using 24-h dietary recalls. The polyphenol content of foods was estimated using the Phenol-Explorer Database (version 3.6). Daily intake values for total polyphenols (adjusted to energy intake), main classes, and subclasses were calculated for each respondent and dietary recall. Usual intake was estimated by age/sex groups and by sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics independently for adults and children using the National Cancer Institute method. Given-day arithmetic mean polyphenol intakes and mean proportions of main classes contributing to sum total polyphenol intakes were explored. Population proportions were used to determine dietary contributors.

RESULTS

Usual total polyphenol intake was 1119.3 mg/1000 kcal/day (95% CI: 1090.5, 1148.1) for adults ≥ 19 years and 473.0 mg/1000 kcal/day (95% CI: 454.9, 491.0) for children 2‒18 years. Generally, total polyphenol intakes differed by age, sex, ethnicity, and household education status and were higher among coffee and tea consumers. Most polyphenols came from flavonoids (40.0%) and phenolic acids (49.8%), with children consuming more flavonoids and other polyphenols and adults more phenolic acids. The top food contributors to polyphenol intake were coffee (26.8%), tea (8.9%), fruit juice (4.2%), banana (4.1%), and apple (3.8%).

CONCLUSION

Usual intake of total polyphenols among Canadians differed primarily by age. Non-alcoholic beverages were top contributors to total polyphenol intake.