Sources of saturated fatty acids in Belgian adolescents' diet: implications for the development of food-based dietary guidelines

The objectives of the present study are to describe the dietary sources of total fat and of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and to formulate food-based dietary guidelines for SFA in Belgian adolescents. A random sample of 13-18-year-old adolescents was drawn from secondary schools in the region of Ghent. A 7 d estimated food record method was used to quantify nutrient and food intake. The average daily SFA intake is 4 % above the recommended 10 % of the total energy contribution. The most important contributors of SFA on food group level were 'fats, oils and savoury sauces', 'meat and meat products', 'sugar, confectionery, sweet fillings and sauces', 'cheese', 'milk and milk products' and 'bread, rusk and breakfast rolls'. On food subgroup level 'fresh meat', 'high-fat margarine' and 'high-fat cheese' had the highest contribution to SFA intake in all adolescents. Adolescents with a low SFA intake (lowest tertile) were compared with adolescents with a high intake (highest tertile). In the lowest tertile the intake of total fat and MUFA was significantly lower than in the highest tertile, while the intake of total carbohydrates, mono- and disaccharides and complex carbohydrates was significantly higher. Overall, the high-fat cheese intake is significantly lower in the lowest tertile, while the fruit intake is higher. The present analysis shows that the nutritional profile of Belgian adolescents could be potentially improved by decreasing the portion sizes of fresh meat (in boys), high-fat margarine, high-fat cheese and reducing intake of commercially prepared baked goods and processed foods, including fast foods.     

Intake of nutrients associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in a Spanish population

The daily intake of nutrients associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease was assessed in Spain to provide current data on adequance to the Spanish nutritional objectives and recommendations. The energy and nutrient distribution throughout the day was also determined. Nutrient intake data of 100 people (24 males and 76 females) aged 20-40 years living in Ponferrada (León, northwest Spain) were calculated from seven non-consecutive daily dietary records using Spanish food composition tables. The survey was carried out in the autumn of 2001. The average energy (E) intake was 2906.67 kcal (12.16 MJ)/day among men and 2106.95 kcal (8.82 MJ)/day among women, with total fat accounting for 39.21 E% (men) and 38.96 E% (women). Average saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were 13.03, 15.51 and 6.22 E% (men), and 12.20, 15.58 and 7.10 E% (women). The SFA:MUFA:PUFA ratios were 2.1:2.5:1.0 (men) and 1.7:2.2:1.0 (women), with adequate essential fatty acids (FA) amounts. PUFA n-3 FA daily intake (2.46 g and 1.68 g for men and women, respectively) was adjusted to the recommended levels, with a n-6/n-3 ratio of 7.14 (men) and 8.33 (women). Low trans-FA levels were reported both among male (3.10 g/day) and female (2.21 g/day) populations. High daily cholesterol intakes were found (440.87 mg for men and 359.14 mg for women). Average daily intakes of dietary fibre, alcohol, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E, selenium and sodium were 20.14 and 15.68 g, 7.00 and 4.11 g, 736.00 and 739.28 retinol equivalents, 103.45 and 95.24 mg, 8.73 and 7.84 mg, 83.26 and 45.93 micrograms, and 3777.21 and 2488.12 mg for men and women, respectively. The vitamin E (mg):PUFA (g) ratios were 0.44 (male) and 0.46 (female). Dinner (10.00 p.m. approximately) showed the highest densities (g/1000 kcal) of fat and cholesterol, while breakfast had the highest densities of SFA and trans-FA, both in men and women. Our results advise a decrease in total fat, SFA, n-6 FA, cholesterol and sodium amounts. In contrast, energy intake and consumption of dietetic fibre, vitamins A and E (both sexes) and selenium (women) should be increased in the study population.     

US dietary patterns associated with fat intake: the 1987 National Health Interview Survey.

OBJECTIVES. This research used food frequency data to investigate dietary patterns associated with fat intake. METHODS. Data from the 1987 National Health Interview Survey of 20,143 adults were used to determine correlations between fat (adjusted for kilocalories) and both nutrient and food group intakes. Median food and nutrient intakes were determined within quartiles of percentage of kilocalories from fat. RESULTS. Intakes of vegetables, fruits, cereals, fish/chicken, low-fat milk, alcoholic beverages, vitamin C, percentage of kilocalories from carbohydrates, carotenoids, folate, dietary fiber, carbohydrates, and vitamin A decreased as percentage of kilocalories from fat increased. Intakes of salty snacks, peanuts, processed and red meats, whole milk and cheese, desserts, eggs, fried potatoes, table fats, cholesterol, vitamin E, sodium, protein, and energy increased with percentage of kilocalories from fat. Results by demographic subgroups showed few differences from those found in the total population. CONCLUSIONS. Fat intake is consistently associated with specific dietary patterns. Such patterns need to be evaluated concurrently in studies of diet and chronic disease.     

The role of animal nutrition in improving the nutritive value of animal-derived foods in relation to chronic disease

Foods derived from animals are an important source of nutrients in the diet; for example, milk and meat together provide about 60 and 55% of the dietary intake of Ca and protein respectively in the UK. However, certain aspects of some animal-derived foods, particularly their fat and saturated fatty acid (SFA) contents, have led to concerns that these foods substantially contribute to the risk of CVD, the metabolic syndrome and other chronic diseases. In most parts of Europe dairy products are the greatest single dietary source of SFA. The fatty acid composition of various animal-derived foods is, however, not constant and can, in many cases, be enhanced by animal nutrition. In particular, milk fat with reduced concentrations of the C12-16 SFA and an increased concentration of 18:1 MUFA is achievable, although enrichment with very-long-chain n-3 PUFA is much less efficient. However, there is now evidence that some animal-derived foods (notably milk products) contain compounds that may actively promote long-term health, and research is urgently required to fully characterise the benefits associated with the consumption of these compounds and to understand how the levels in natural foods can be enhanced. It is also vital that the beneficial effects are not inadvertently destroyed in the process of reducing the concentrations of SFA. In the future the role of animal nutrition in creating foods closer to the optimum composition for long-term human health is likely to become increasingly important, but production of such foods on a scale that will substantially affect national diets will require political and financial incentives and great changes in the animal production industry.     

Development of food groupings to guide dietary advice for people with diabetes

Objective: To describe the development and characteristics of a food categorisation system and its application to guide advice for diabetes treatment. Design and methods: Foods commonly consumed by 16 adults with diabetes were grouped by macronutrient content and type of fat to form a set of reference food groups for dietary advice. Means for energy and macronutrients from individual food groups were then used to construct an overall intake pattern targeting 8000 kJ and relative amounts of carbohydrate, protein and fat (saturated fatty acids (SFA) < 10%E and (polyunsaturated fatty acids) PUFA ～ 10%E). Variation in energy and macronutrients contributed by all foods partitioned into each food group was assessed by the coefficient of variation of data on the whole diet. Results: To differentiate between sources of fat, 13 food groups emerged and 10 were deemed acceptable to nutritional guidelines for diabetes treatment. The food group pattern was judged adequate for the achievement of dietary recommendations with low‐potential variation in total energy (5%) and macronutrient proportions (protein 6%, fat 6%, carbohydrate 3%), but higher for fat types (SFA 22%, (monounsaturated fatty acids) MUFA 11%, PUFA 12%). Targeted proportions for fat types were achieved only when daily servings of PUFA‐rich, oils, nuts and oily fish or soy were included in an ideal intake pattern. Conclusions: In theory, a dietary pattern constructed from food group sources of macronutrients and individual fat types results in low‐potential variation from recommended nutrient targets and, therefore, is appropriate to guide advice for the treatment of diabetes.     

Dietary intervention in breast cancer patients: effects on food choice.

Effects of dietary intervention on food choice were studied in 240 women aged 50-65 years who had been operated for a stage I-II breast cancer. Following surgery, the women participated in a dietary history interview and were then randomized to one of two groups. The intervention group (n = 121) received individual dietary counselling aimed at reducing dietary fat intake to 20-25% energy (E%), whereas no dietary advice was given to women in the control group (n = 119). For the 52% of the women in the intervention group that completed the study the total fat intake decreased from 36 to 23 E% (P less than or equal to 0.01) and from 37 to 34 E% (P less than or equal to 0.01) for the control group. There were significant reductions in the intake of table fat, high-fat milk products, pork and sausages (containing greater than 11% fat), eggs, rice, pasta, cakes and chocolate for the intervention group. Concurrently the intake of vegetables, fruits, potatoes, bread, cereals, low-fat milk products, low-fat meat, sausages and fish increased significantly. For the control group there was a significant decrease in the consumption of total milk products, total meats, rice, pasta, cakes, and butter intake while the consumption of vegetables, fruits, cereals and fish increased (P less than or equal to 0.01). Reduction of high-fat foods and increases of carbohydrate-rich foods were more pronounced for the intervention group than for the control group. Formal education influenced dietary changes, and dietary counselling should therefore ideally be adapted to education level. This study showed that dietary counselling can bring about significant changes in consumption of high-fat foods for at least a 2-year period for women operated for breast cancer.     

Animal nutrition and lipids in animal products and their contribution to human intake and health

Few EU countries meet targets for saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake. Dairy products usually represent the single largest source of SFA, yet evidence indicates that milk has cardioprotective properties. Options for replacing some of the SFA in milk fat with cis-monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) through alteration of the cow's diet are examined. Also, few people achieve minimum recommended intakes (~450-500 mg/d) of the long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Enrichment of EPA+DHA in poultry meat via bird nutrition is described and how this would impact on habitual intake is discussed.     

中国成人膳食脂肪酸摄入和食物来源状况分析

目的分析我国成人膳食脂肪酸摄入量及主要脂肪酸的食物来源。方法利用2002年中国居民营养与健康状况调查中3d24h回顾膳食调查结果,结合食物成分表中脂肪酸数据及补充测定的34种食物脂肪酸数据,对44905名成人(不包括孕妇和乳母)的膳食脂肪酸摄入量及食物来源进行分析。结果城市居民饱和脂肪酸(SFA)、单不饱和脂肪酸(MUFA)和多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)摄入量中位数分别为15.9、23.6和20.2,农村居民分别为13.8、23.4和13.7g/d;城市居民α亚麻酸(ALA)、二十碳五烯酸(EPA)、二十二碳六烯酸(DHA)、亚油酸(LA)和花生四烯酸(AA)摄入量中位数分别为2.3g/d、1.8mg/d、22.1mg/d、17.6g/d、45.4mg/d,农村居民分别为1.3g/d、0.0mg/d、6.0mg/d、11.3g/d、43.1mg/d。城市、农村居民膳食中S/M/P比值分别为1:1.4:1.3和1:1.5:1.1;n-6/n-3系列多不饱和脂肪酸比例分别为7.6和8.0。全国居民SFA、MUFA和PUFA供能百分比中位数分别为6.1、9.8和6.3。城市居民51.4%的膳食SFA来自动物性食物,农村为38.5%。城市和农村居民膳食中MUFA的主要来源是食用油和动物性食物。城市居民膳食脂肪中约50%的PUFA、n-6PUFA和n-3PUFA来自于豆油和色拉油;农村PUFA和n-6系列PUFA来源广泛。农村居民膳食n-3PUFA近一半来自于菜籽油。结论城乡居民SFA、MUFA、PUFA的摄入比例合理;与参考摄入量相比,城乡居民n-6/n-3PUFA比例偏高,应增加膳食中n-3系列PUFA摄入量所占比例。     

The effect of replacing dietary saturated fat with polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fat on plasma lipids in free-living young adults

OBJECTIVE: To examine, in free-living adults eating self-selected diets, the effects on plasma cholesterol of substituting saturated fat rich foods with either n-6 polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fat rich foods while at the same time adhering to a total fat intake of 30-33% of dietary energy. DESIGN: Two randomised crossover trials. SETTING: General community. SUBJECTS: Volunteer sample of healthy free-living nutrition students at the University of Otago. Trial I, n=29; and trial II, n=42. INTERVENTIONS: In trials I and II participants were asked to follow for 2(1/2) weeks a diet high in saturated fat yet with a total fat content that conformed to nutrition recommendations (30-33% energy). During the 2(1/2) week comparison diet, saturated fat rich foods were replaced with foods rich in n-6 polyunsaturated fats (trial I) whereas in trial II the replacement foods were rich in monounsaturated fats. Participants were asked to maintain a total fat intake of 30-33% of energy on all diets. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Energy and nutrient intakes, plasma triglyceride fatty acids, and plasma cholesterol. RESULTS: When replacing saturated fat with either n-6 polyunsaturated fat or monounsaturated fat, total fat intakes decreased by 2.9% energy and 5.1% energy, respectively. Replacing saturated fat with n-6 polyunsaturated fat (trial I) lowered plasma total cholesterol by 19% [from 4.87 (0.88) to 3.94 (0.92) mmol/l, mean (s.d.)], low density lipoprotein cholesterol by 22% [from 2.87 (0.75) to 2.24 (0.67) mmol/l], and high density lipoprotein cholesterol by 14% [from 1.39 (0.36) to 1.19 (0.34) mmol/l], whereas replacing saturated fat with monounsaturated fat (trial II) decreased total cholesterol by 12%, low density lipoprotein cholesterol by 15%, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol by 4%, respectively. The change in the ratio of total to high density lipoprotein cholesterol was similar during trial I and trial II. CONCLUSIONS: Young adults are very responsive to dietary-induced changes in plasma cholesterol even when an isocaloric replacement of saturated fat with n-6 polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fat is not achieved. Replacing saturated fat with either n-6 polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fat is equally efficacious at reducing the total to high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio. SPONSORSHIP: University of Otago, Meadow Lea Ltd.     

Contribution of specific foods to fat, fatty acids, and cholesterol in the development of a food frequency questionnaire in Koreans

The present study identified dietary sources of fat, fatty acids, and cholesterol in Koreans residing in and near Seoul. The study also identified foods to be included in a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) by both contribution analysis (CA) and multiple regression analysis (MRA). Three-day dietary records were collected from 224 subjects (107 men and 117 women) aged 30 to 85 years. Pork was the main source of total fat and the largest contributor to saturated fatty acids (SFA) was beef. MRA identified animal food as the primary source of between-person variance for SFA. Arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid originated primarily from marine products. About a fourth of the total cholesterol intake was derived from chickens' eggs by CA, while chickens' eggs accounted for 46% of the cholesterol intake for between-person variance by MRA. With 10 food items, the FFQ could explain more than half of total intakes except for total fat and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and at least 65% of between-person variances. The percentage coverage in the FFQ ranged from 61% for n-6 PUFA and linoleic acid and to 90% for arachidonic acid. The value of this FFQ is that it can estimate usual dietary food patterns and nutrient intake in Koreans for epidemiological studies. It can also potentially be used to study the relationship between specific diseases and nutrient intakes of interest.     

Dietary intakes vary with age among Eskimo adults of Northwest Alaska in the GOCADAN study, 2000-2003

Dietary factors influence the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The diet of Alaskan Eskimos differs from that of other populations. We surveyed Eskimo adults in Northwest Alaska to document their usual dietary intakes, differences based on gender and age, and sources of selected nutrients, and to generate appropriate dietary advice to reduce CVD. Interviewers surveyed 850 men and women 17-92 y old, using a quantitative food-frequency instrument. We observed many significant (chi(2) analysis P < 0.05) differences in nutrient intakes among 3 age-groups. Energy intake from carbohydrate was negatively related to participant age-group (P < or = 0.01). Energy intake from all fats (P < 0.001) and polyunsaturated fat (P < or = 0.01) was positively related to age-group among both men and women in contrast to other studies in which age differences were either not observed or decreased with age. Native foods were major sources of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, including 56% of (n-3) fatty acids primarily from seal oil and salmon. However, Native foods contributed significantly less to the diets of young adults than to those of elders, especially among women. Store-bought foods were the main sources of energy, carbohydrate, fat, saturated fat, and fiber for all adults. Based on their nutrient density and potential to inhibit CVD, continued consumption of traditional foods is recommended. Variations in intake by age may portend changing eating patterns that will influence CVD as participants age. These data will contribute to understanding dietary risk factors for cardiovascular disease in this population.     

Dairy and cardiovascular health: Friend or foe?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence at a global level is predicted to increase substantially over the next decade due to the increasing ageing population and incidence of obesity. Hence, there is an urgent requirement to focus on modifiable contributors to CVD risk, including a high dietary intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA). As an important source of SFA in the UK diet, milk and dairy products are often targeted for SFA reduction. The current paper acknowledges that milk is a complex food and that simply focusing on the link between SFA and CVD risk overlooks the other beneficial nutrients of dairy foods. The body of existing prospective evidence exploring the impact of milk and dairy consumption on risk factors for CVD is reviewed. The current paper highlights that high milk consumption may be beneficial to cardiovascular health, while illustrating that the evidence is less clear for cheese and butter intake. The option of manipulating the fatty acid profile of ruminant milk is discussed as a potential dietary strategy for lowering SFA intake at a population level. The review highlights that there is a necessity to perform more well‐controlled human intervention‐based research that provides a more holistic evaluation of fat‐reduced and fat‐modified dairy consumption on CVD risk factors including vascular function, arterial stiffness, postprandial lipaemia and markers of inflammation. Additionally, further research is required to investigate the impact of different dairy products and the effect of the specific food matrix on CVD development.     

Increasing trends in dietary total fat and fatty acid intake among Korean children: using the 2007–2017 national data

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESThe prevalence of obesity has been increasing in Korean children. As an unhealthy diet is known as one of the major determinants of childhood obesity, assessing and monitoring dietary fat intake of children is needed.SUBJECTS/METHODSThis analysis included 9,998 children aged 3–11 yrs from the 2007–2017 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Dietary data were obtained from a single 24-h dietary recall. Intakes of total fat and fatty acids, including saturated fatty acid (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), n-3 fatty acid (n-3 FA), and n-6 fatty acid (n-6 FA) were evaluated as the absolute amount (g) and proportion of energy from each fatty acid (% of energy). The total fat and SFA intake were also assessed according to compliance with dietary guidelines. Linear trends in the dietary fats intake across the survey period were tested using multiple regression models.RESULTSTotal fat intake significantly increased from 38.5 g (20.3% of energy) to 43.4 g (23.3% of energy) from 2007 to 2017. This increase was mainly accounted for the increases in intakes of SFA (7.2% to 8.4% of energy) and MUFA (6.2% to 7.5% of energy). PUFA intake increased from 4.4 to 4.7% of energy during the 11-yrs period: from 0.57 to 0.63% of energy for n-3 FA and from 3.8 to 4.1% of energy for n-6 FA. The proportions of children who consumed amounts exceeding the dietary guidelines for total fat and SFA significantly increased from 2007 to 2017, with increases from 9.8% to 17.4% for total fat and from 36.9% to 50.9% for SFA.CONCLUSIONSProminent increasing trends in the consumption of total fat and SFA but tiny change in n-3 FA intake were observed in Korean children. The healthy intake of dietary fats should be emphasized in this population.     

Assessment of nutrition of seamen and fishermen

The work was aimed at determining the food intake for seamen of the Polish Marine and fishermen. The research was carried out on the 55 sea-going vessels and 36 deep-sea fishing ships. The average food intake was determined and the daily calorie intake calculated. The quality assessment of the 112 week menus was made. The excessive consumption of eggs, meats and sausages, butter and sour milk, and processed vegetables and potatoes was determined. The recommended calorie intake in the diet was highly surpassed. The portion of energy derived from fats was higher, and that from carbohydrates lower than recommended. The menus were negatively evaluated, with no menu reported as very good or good, mainly because of insufficient amount of fresh vegetables and fruits, monotony in choice of products and an excessive use of frying and baking to prepare the meats. The present research showed that the food intake was incorrect in both amount and quality of foods, and a nutritional value of the diet. The calorie intake was substantially surpassing the recommended value that was originated mainly from very high intake of the fats. The diet contained higher, than recommended, amount of food rich in cholesterol and saturated fats. The intake of food, rich in complex carbohydrates and calcium, was insufficient, and acidifying products were predominant in the diet. The present food intake can result in overweight and obesity, coronary and heart diseases, liver and stomach diseases. The change in food intake by and increase in amount of cereals, milk and dairy products, and vegetable fats, and decrease in amount of meats and sausages, butter and sour cream, and eggs is recommended. The daily calorie intake should be lowered.     

Effects of dietary saturated, monounsaturated, and n-3 fatty acids on blood pressure in healthy subjects

BACKGROUND: The quantity and quality of fats consumed in the diet influence the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although the effect of diet on plasma lipids and lipoproteins is well documented, less information exists on the role of fats on blood pressure (BP). OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate the effects of different types of dietary fat on BP in healthy subjects. DESIGN: Healthy subjects (n = 162) were randomly assigned for 3 mo to follow 1 of 2 isoenergetic diets: 1 rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA diet) and the other rich in saturated fatty acids (SFA diet). Each group was further randomly assigned to receive supplementation with fish oil (3.6 g n-3 fatty acids/d) or placebo. RESULTS: Systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) decreased with the MUFA diet [-2.2% (P = 0.009) and -3.8% (P = 0.0001), respectively] but did not change with the SFA diet [-1.0% (P = 0.2084) and -1.1% (P = 0.2116)]. The MUFA diet caused a significantly lower DBP than did the SFA diet (P = 0.0475). Interestingly, the favorable effects of MUFA on DBP disappeared at a total fat intake above the median (>37% of energy). The addition of n-3 fatty acids influenced neither SBP nor DBP. CONCLUSIONS: Changing the proportions of dietary fat by decreasing SFAs and increasing MUFAs decreased diastolic BP. Interestingly, the beneficial effect on BP induced by fat quality was negated by the consumption of a high total fat intake. The addition of n-3 fatty acids to the diet had no significant effect on BP.     

Food consumption pattern and nutrient intake of Indian obese males

Mean daily intake of all foods except cereals i.e. pulses, green leafy vegetables, roots and tubers, fruits, milk and milk products, sugar and fats of Indian obese male respondents was higher than the values recommended by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR, 1987). The consumption of fat and sugar was 18 and 8 percent more than the recommended intake values respectively. However, their non-obese counterparts consumed significantly (P < 0.05) lower amounts of all the foods except cereals and pulses. The intake of various nutrients i.e. energy, protein, fats, beta-carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vit B12, folacin, ascorbic acid and calcium by obese respondents was considerably higher than the recommended values (ICMR, 1990) and the control group. All the obese respondents were consuming adequate (100% and above) amounts of energy, protein and fats. Intake of carbohydrates was marginally adequate (75-99.9%) among 92 percent of the obese respondents whereas 8 percent were consuming adequate amount of carbohydrates. They had higher consumption of visible as well as invisible fat than the control group.     

The confusion about dietary fatty acids recommendations for CHD prevention

A recent meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies has not found an association between dietary saturated fat intake and CHD incidence. This funnelled the discussion about the importance of the recommendation to lower the intake of saturated fat for the prevention of CHD. At the same time a document of the European Food Safety Authority has suggested that specific quantitative recommendations are not needed for individual fatty acids but that more general statements can suffice. In this review, we discuss methodological aspects of the absence of association between SFA intake and CHD incidence in prospective cohort studies. We also summarise the results of the controlled dietary experiments on blood lipids and on CHD incidence in which saturated fat was replaced by either cis-unsaturated fat or carbohydrates. Finally, we propose a nutritionally adequate diet with an optimal fatty acid composition for the prevention of CHD in the context of dietary patterns. Such diets are characterised by a low intake of saturated fat, and as low as possible intake of trans-fat and fulfil the requirements for the intake of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids. No recommendation is needed for the intake of cis-MUFA.     

Food sources, dietary behavior, and the saturated fat intake of Latino children.

BACKGROUND. Recent recommendations for Americans aged 2 and older call for a reduction in the average saturated fat intake to less than 10% of calories. METHODS. Using 24-hour dietary recalls collected from mothers of 4- to 7-year-old urban Latino children, we identified foods and dietary behavior patterns that distinguish children with higher and lower mean daily percentages of calories from saturated fat. RESULTS. Compared with children in the lowest quintile of intake, children in the highest quintile consumed more than twice as much saturated fat per day from high-fat milk products (18.5 g vs 7.8 g), mostly from whole milk. They did not consume different kinds of milk or different amounts of milk per eating occasion, but on average they consumed milk more frequently (2.8 vs 1.6 eating occasions per day). Even children in the lowest quintile, on average, exceeded the 10% of calories from saturated fat currently recommended. If low-fat (1% fat) milk had been substituted without other dietary changes, all but the highest two quintiles would have been within the recommended level. CONCLUSIONS. The substitution of low-fat for whole milk appears to be a key strategy for preschool children for achieving recommended levels of saturated fat intake.     

Association between Ultra-processed Food Consumption and Dietary Intake and Diet Quality in Korean Adults

BackgroundFood environments have changed rapidly, and the global interest in ultra-processed foods has increased. Ultra-processed foods are typically energy dense, high in sugars and fat, and low in fiber, protein, minerals, and vitamins.ObjectiveThis study aimed to estimate the energy contribution of ultra-processed foods in the diet of Korean adults and to examine the association between ultra-processed food consumption and dietary intake and diet quality.DesignThis study is a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016–2018).Participants/settingsA total of 16,657 adults aged ≥19 years who completed a 1-day 24-hour recall.Main outcome measuresAbsolute and relative intake of energy and nutrients were measured and dietary quality was assessed using the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI).Statistical analysisMultiple regression models adjusted for sociodemographic variables were used to examine the association between quintiles of ultra-processed foods dietary energy contribution and dietary intake and quality.ResultsMean reported daily energy intake was 2,031 kcal, with 25.1% of calories coming from ultra-processed foods. Mean energy contribution from ultra-processed foods ranged from 3.6% kcal (Q1) to 52.4% kcal (Q5). Energy contribution of ultra-processed foods was positively associated with reported intake of daily energy, total sugars, and total and saturated fat and inversely associated with reported intake of carbohydrates, fiber, minerals, and vitamins. Both sodium and potassium were negatively associated with percentage of energy from ultra-processed foods. However, the sodium-to-potassium ratio was high regardless of quintile of energy contribution from ultra-processed foods, and the ratio was positively associated with percentage of total energy from ultra-processed foods. Although the KHEI score was inversely associated with percentage of daily energy from ultra-processed foods, all levels of ultra-processed food consumption were associated with poor diet quality.ConclusionsThe ultra-processed foods consumption of Korean adults accounted for one fourth of daily energy intake, and a higher dietary energy contribution from ultra-processed foods was associated with poorer dietary intakes and a lower dietary quality. Further studies are needed to understand factors influencing selection and consumption of ultra-processed foods and to identify effective strategies to promote healthy food choices.