Original Article

What is a healthy Nordic diet? Foods and nutrients in the NORDIET study

Viola Adamsson^1*, Anna Reumark², Tommy Cederholm¹, Bengt Vessby¹, Ulf Risérus¹ and Gunnar Johansson³

¹Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; ²Lantmännen Food R&D AB, Malmö, Sweden; ³School of Social and Health Sciences, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden

Abstract

Background: A healthy Nordic diet (ND), a diet based on foods originating from the Nordic countries, improves blood lipid profile and insulin sensitivity and lowers blood pressure and body weight in hypercholesterolemic subjects.

Objective: To describe and compare food and nutrient composition of the ND in relation to the intake of a Swedish reference population (SRP) and the recommended intake (RI) and average requirement (AR), as described by the Nordic nutrition recommendations (NNR).

Design: The analyses were based on an estimate of actual food and nutrient intake of 44 men and women (mean age 53±8 years, BMI 26±3), representing an intervention arm receiving ND for 6 weeks.

Results: The main difference between ND and SRP was the higher intake of plant foods, fish, egg and vegetable fat and a lower intake of meat products, dairy products, sweets and desserts and alcoholic beverages during ND (p<0.001 for all food groups). Intake of cereals and seeds was similar between ND and SRP (p>0.3). The relative intake of protein, fat and carbohydrates during ND was in accordance with RI. Intake of all vitamins and minerals was above AR, whereas sodium intake was below RI.

Conclusions: When compared with the food intake of an SRP, ND is primarily a plant-based diet. ND represents a balanced food intake that meets the current RI and AR of NNR 2004 and has a dietary pattern that is associated with decreased morbidity and mortality.

Keywords: Nordic foods; nutrient intake; food intake; Swedish reference population; Nordic nutrition recommendations

Received: 15 March 2012; Revised: 14 May 2012; Accepted: 1 June 2012; Published: 27 June 2012

Food & Nutrition Research 2012. © 2012 Viola Adamsson et al. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/), permitting all non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Citation: Food & Nutrition Research 2012. 56: 18189 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/fnr.v56i0.18189

According to the NORDIET study (1), the Nordic diet (ND), mainly based on traditional Nordic foods, improved blood lipid profiles and insulin sensitivity and lowered blood pressure and body weight in hypercholesterolemic subjects. These results are in accordance with a controlled study in pre-diabetic subjects suggesting reduction of inflammatory and endothelial function markers (2) and improved glucose metabolism (3) after a diet high in Nordic foods, including whole grains, fish and bilberries. The favourable effects of ND support current international dietary guidelines (4) and dietary guidelines in Europe (5, 6) and the United States (7–9). The ND is in accordance with similar healthy diets, such as DASH and the Mediterranean diets (10–13). Although the focus of ND is cardiovascular risk reduction, this diet would probably be of benefit in the prevention of type 2 diabetes (14, 15) and several forms of cancer (16).

A recent meta-analysis by Sofi et al. (13) suggests that the Mediterranean diet is beneficial for the primary prevention of several chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cancer, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. A Danish cohort study (17) suggests a lower risk of mortality among middle-aged Danes who adhere to a healthy Nordic food index, and a description of guidelines for a New ND, emphasising health, sustainability and gastronomy, has been published (18). As the reported health effects of ND appear promising, further detailed characterisation of the food and nutrient profile of ND is warranted.

The objective of this study was to describe and compare the food and nutrient composition of the ND in relation to the intake of a Swedish reference population (SRP) and to the recommended intake (RI) and average requirement (AR), as described by reference (6).

Methods

Design

The study design is described elsewhere (1). In brief, the trial was a 6-week dietary randomised, controlled, parallel-group intervention study, including free-living subjects (n=86). At baseline, the subjects were randomised into one of two groups: ND (n=44) or a control diet (n=42). The current study was based on the ND provided to the 44 subjects in the intervention group (17 men and 27 women, mean age 53±8 years, mean BMI 26.3±3). All subjects followed a 3-week rotating menu plan, including alternatives for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack and beverage. A representative daily menu for the ND is presented in supplemental material (1) Table 1. Throughout the study, all dishes were prepared and supplied to study participants randomised to ND, except for breakfast, which the subjects prepared themselves. The participants were allowed to eat food outside the menu, once a week, provided the meal or snack was registered. The ND was provided ad libitum and was neither energy restricted nor isocaloric on an individual level. The ND was calculated on an isocaloric basis (on group level) through validated formulae (6). Dietist XP version 3.0, a computer programme based on the Swedish National Food Administration database 2005-02-01, was used to calculate food and nutrient intake in the ND.

Selection of food items in the ND

The selection of foods was based on nutritional value, agricultural traditions, seasonal variations and habitual use of food items in the Nordic countries and foods commonly available at local super markets. Approximately 80% of food items included in ND should be possible to grow in the Nordic countries. Food groups in the study were based on commonly available specific key nutrients inspired by earlier reports (Table 1) (19–21), for instance, rapeseed oil rich in oleic, linoleic and α-linolenic acids (22, 23). Fish in general, especially fatty fish, was a natural ingredient in ND, and low-fat dairy products (milk, yoghurt and cheese for cooking) (6, 10, 24), whole grain cereals in general (25–27) and specific whole grain cereals based on oat and barley (28, 29) and rye (17, 30) were recommended. However, some food items commonly regarded as traditional Nordic foods, such as butter and certain types of meat and hard cheese, were not included in the ND for general nutritional and metabolic reasons, e.g., low-density cholesterol (LDL-C) rising effects. As the short-term study did not include all seasons, it was not possible to include all types of foods that otherwise might have been included in a healthy ND.

As cooking practices imply physical, chemical and nutritional changes in the nutritional value of food products, low-temperature cooking methods, such as oven baking and boiling, were the main preparation methods recommended in the ND.

Nutrient profile

The nutrient profile for the study (1) was based on daily RI, according to NNR 2004, and inspired by earlier reports (10, 13, 25, 31). The emphasis was on the quality of fat and carbohydrate, where the amount, quality and source of dietary fibre, refined cereals versus whole grain cereals and the theory of Glycemic Index (GI) were taken into account.

Food intake in ND compared to an SRP

Food intake data from ‘Riksmaten’ were used for comparison. During 1997 and 1998, Statistics Sweden, in co-operation with the National Food Administration, conducted the second and the most recent nationwide Swedish dietary survey (Riksmaten) (32). The survey consisted of a representative sample of 2,000 households. In each household, one person aged between 18 and 74 completed a pre-coded, 7-day record book (32).

To compare the intake of different foods in ND (n=44) with the intake in SRP, the values of SRP needed to be grouped and normalised with respect to gender. In the first step, the mean intake for separate products was summarised into larger categories, when needed. In the second step, the weighted means of men and women were calculated with weights corresponding to the proportion of men and women in the ND. For each group of food items, a single estimate of the mean value for SRP was calculated.

Nutrient intake in ND compared to NNR

The intake of macronutrients was compared with RI. The RI, according to NNR, is defined as the AR of a population plus a safety margin of two standard deviations (SD). RI is used for planning diets, and AR is appropriate when evaluating the nutritional intake of a group of people. For micronutrients with no AR in the NNR, an AR was calculated. First, the ratio AR/RI was calculated for micronutrients with both AR and RI in NNR, and this was then used to calculate a proxy AR for vitamin D, calcium, magnesium and potassium.

Statistical methods

SPSS version 18 for Windows was used for the statistical analysis. The mean food intake in the ND was compared with the mean food intake in SRP with student's t-test, with the null hypothesis that the mean value for ND was equal to the fix value of SRP for each group of food items. A two-tailed p<0.05 was regarded as significant. Food intake is presented as actual amount consumed (mean g/day).

Results

Food items

After 6 weeks on the ND (n=44), the most apparent deviation from SRP (Table 2) was the higher absolute intake of fruits, berries, vegetables, root vegetables and potatoes, legumes, fish and egg, fat and oil, and a lower intake of meat products and poultry, dairy products, sweets and desserts and alcoholic beverages (p<0.001) for all food groups. The consumption of cereals and seeds was almost the same for both diets (p>0.3).

Macro- and micronutrients

After 6 weeks, the relative intake of protein, total fat, carbohydrates, saturated fat (SFA), monounsaturated fat (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fat (PUFA) in ND was in accordance with the planned nutrient profile and RI of the NNR (Table 3). The mean intake of total dietary fibre was approximately twice RI; the total dietary fibre comprised cereal 23 g, vegetables 15 g, fruits 5 g and legumes 5 g. β-Glucan and whole grain intake were above the planned nutrient profile for the study.

The corresponding intake of vitamins A, D, E (tocopherol), thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamins B6 and B12, folate and vitamin C was above AR (Table 3). The intake of minerals was above AR for calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium and selenium (Table 3). Sodium intake was below RI, according to NNR.

Discussion

A diet mainly based on traditional foods originating from the Nordic countries may be beneficial for health (1, 2, 17). ND reduces CVD risk factors (1) and in this study appeared to be a diet with a healthy food profile that fulfilled the NNR regarding macro- and micronutrient intake.

The same food items were consumed in both ND and SRP, although in different proportions, except for cereals and seeds. This indicated that foods in the ND were not exclusive foods that could be purchased only in special shops. The most apparent difference between the ND and the SRP was the higher absolute intake of plant foods, such as fruits, berries, vegetables, root vegetables, potatoes and legumes, vegetable fats and oils, and fish and egg, and the lower intake of meat products and poultry, dairy products, sweets, desserts, and alcoholic beverages in the ND.

Because of the uncertainty of the content of specific food products in the SRP, and the distributional properties of ND data (Table 2), the numbers should be considered as rough estimates, and, thus, interpreted with caution. Another uncertainty is that food consumption might have changed since the most recent food intake data of a random sample of a Swedish population in 1997–98 (32). According to the Swedish Board of Agriculture, during the period 2000–10, food consumption data indicate an increase in the consumption of fruit and berries (3%), vegetables (11%), meat and poultry (19%) and bread and cereals, not including pastries (18%), but during the same period, total consumption of milk and milk products decreased by 8% (33). These data suggest that since 1997–98, the difference between ND and a random sample of the Swedish population decreased with regard to fruits, berries and vegetables, bread and cereals, milk and milk products and increased with regard to meat and poultry consumption.

The relative intake of total fat, SFA, MUFA and PUFA in ND was in accordance with RI (Table 3). Low-fat products such as low-fat dairy products and lean meat together with low-fat cooking methods, such as oven baking and boiling, contributed to the reduced total fat and SFA content in the ND (Table 3). The main sources of fat contributing to the PUFA intake were rapeseed oil for dressing and cooking and a vegetable low-fat spread and vegetable liquid margarine based on sunflower oil, linseed oil and rapeseed oil for use on bread and for cooking. In the ND, the intake of fish, such as Baltic herring, herring, mackerel and salmon was 68 g per day, whereas, in SRP, the mean intake of fish and seafood, and dishes thereof, was 35 g per day for women and 34 g per day for men.

The replacement of foods rich in SFA and trans fatty acids with foods rich in PUFA has favourable effects on cardiovascular risk factors (22, 34–36). Although beneficial effects on diabetes risk and insulin sensitivity have been observed, the results are less consistent (37).

Rapeseed oil, with a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, has similar favourable effects on serum lipoprotein profile as olive oil (23). In hyperlipidemic subjects, rapeseed oil has more favourable effects on total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein ratio and triglycerides than a diet rich in high-fat dairy products (22), especially when the diet consists of >35 E% fat (22). In this study, total fat intake was much lower (27 E%) and most likely explained the reduction in HDL-C (1). Future studies should aim for a total fat intake between 30–35 E%, with the majority of fat coming from plants and fish, i.e., both MUFA and PUFA (35, 36) to avoid reduction of HDL-C (22). The risk of developing CVD is reduced with a high consumption of fish (4, 38, 39), i.e., around 1–2 servings per week. In high-risk populations, a fish consumption of 40–60 g per day is recommended; which could lead to approximately a 50% reduction in mortality from CVD (4, 38).

The observed relative intake of 52 E% of carbohydrates in the ND was in accordance with RI by NNR (Table 3). When replacing SFA with carbohydrates, the effect on risk factors for CVD depends on the type of carbohydrates that replace SFA (40). In a prospective cohort study (40), the replacement of SFA with carbohydrates of low-GI value is associated with a lower risk of myocardial infarction, whereas replacing SFA with carbohydrates of high-GI value is associated with a higher risk of myocardial infarction. Although the GI of the ND was not measured, most carbohydrate-rich foods (e.g. pasta, pearled oat, pearled barley, brown beans, yellow and green peas) are low-GI foods (41).

The mean intake of dietary fibre in the ND was approximately twofold above RI (Table 3), with the major source of dietary fibre provided by cereal, vegetables, legumes and fruits (Table 3). Whole grain breakfast cereals, lunch and dinner cereals, porridge based on oat and barley and whole grain bread (50% whole grain of dry matter) based on whole grain rye and wheat increased the intake of dietary fibre. The RI for a total cholesterol and LDL-C lowering effect of β-glucan from oat and barley is 3 g per day (29, 42–44), whereas, in the ND, the intake was 4.9 g per day. The higher intake of β-glucan on ND, compared to the RI, might contribute to a larger portion of the reduction of total cholesterol (29).

The intake of whole grain, as an absolute amount, in the ND was above suggested recommendations (5, 45, 46) and above actual whole grain intake in Scandinavia (Norway, Denmark, Sweden) where mean intake varies between 37 and 58 g per day (47). The high intake of whole grain in the ND was mainly explained by the high intake of whole grain breakfast cereals, oatmeal, barley meal, whole grain pasta, pearled oat, barley and both soft and hard whole grain bread. All traditionally consumed cereals, such as rye, oat, wheat and barley, were represented in the ND. Observational studies consistently suggest a lower risk of CVD and all-cause mortality (27, 48) with a high whole grain intake, although short-term controlled studies fail to show any effects on CVD risk factors (49, 50).

The E% from protein was moderately higher in ND, but still in accordance with RI. The increased protein intake appeared to be mainly from vegetable sources, as the intake of meat and poultry was lower in ND than in SRP (Table 2). Thus, the substitution of animal protein sources for vegetable sources may reduce the risk of CVD (51, 52).

The low intake of sodium was in accordance with current dietary guidelines (5, 6, 8, 11), which was partly the result of replacing some sodium with potassium and magnesium in table salts and the use of various spices in cooking instead of table salt.

Conclusions

The ND of the NORDIET study is mainly a plant-based diet, where animal products are used sparingly as side dishes. Compared with food intakes in an SRP, the ND is higher in absolute intake of fruits, berries, vegetables, root vegetables, potatoes, legumes, vegetable fats and oils, fish and eggs, but lower in meat products and poultry, dairy products, sweets and desserts and alcoholic beverages. The ND is a diet that fulfils current dietary recommendations regarding intake of micro- and macronutrients and includes food items readily available in most grocery stores in Sweden.

Acknowledgements

We thank Anders Persson, Rapport AB and Johan Eklund for the work with food data.

Conflict of interest and funding

This study was funded by a research grant from the Cerealia Foundation. VA received a research grant from the Cerealia Foundation R&D, who financed the study. VA is a PhD student at Uppsala University, Sweden, and at the time of the study was employed by Lantmännen R&D. GJ received a research grant from Cerealia Foundation R&D to supervise VA in dietary survey methodology at the start of the study. UR was funded by a grant from the NordForsk (Nordic Centre of Excellence of Food, Nutrition and Health (SYSDIET) and the Swedish Research Council and received research grants from Diabetesfonden and The Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation. TC is a professor in clinical nutrition at Uppsala University and received no external funding for participating in the study.

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^*Viola Adamsson
Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism
Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences
Uppsala University
Uppsala Science Park
SE-751 85 Uppsala
Sweden
Tel: +46702067732
Email: viola.adamsson@pubcare.uu.se