Dietary intake in Swedish medical students

Abstract

Background: A 3 day food record is a part of the medical curriculum in Go¨teborg, and the dietary intake of
medical students from 1987 to 1993 has been reported previously.
Objective: To study dietary intake in medical students, detect changes over time and qualitative differences
between men and women, and compare with nutrition recommendations, intake in the Swedish population in
general and in medical students in other countries.
Design: A 3 day estimated food record of 1737 students during the years 1994-2006, performed at the
medical school at Go¨teborg University.
Results : Mean energy intake for men and women was 10.9 and 7.8 MJ, respectively, without significant
differences between 1994 and 2006. Proportions of energy from fat, protein, carbohydrates and alcohol were
29/30, 16/16, 51/53 and 2/3E% in female/male students, respectively. The dietary intake of folate and dietary
fibre was higher in 2006 than in 1994 in both genders, whereas the percentage of energy from saturated fat
and dietary iron intake decreased over time.
Conclusions: Energy intake was stable during 19942006. Significant and mostly positive differences over
time were observed. The dietary intake in medical students compared quite well with Nordic Nutrition
Recommendations, and in some aspects was better than in the general population.