Evaluation of dietary intake in a Danishpopulation: the Inter99 study

Abstract

Background: During the past few decades there has been a worldwide increase in the prevalence of obesityand type 2 diabetes, and this may partly be due to an unfavourable dietary composition.Objective: To evaluate the dietary intake of Danish men and women against the dietary recommendations,and to assess the daily glycaemic index (dGI) and the daily glycaemic load (dGL) of the diet.Design: Baseline data from the Danish population-based Inter99 study were used. Dietary intake of 6635 menand women between 30 and 60 years of age was assessed through a food frequency questionnaire. The dietaryintake was evaluated against the Nordic Nutrient Recommendations and the Danish food-based guidelines.Estimation of dGI and dGL was based on existing food tables.Results: Men in the Inter99 study had higher intakes of all fat types, protein, carbohydrate, dietary fibre,alcohol and fish (g dayBackground: During the past few decades there has been a worldwide increase in the prevalence of obesityand type 2 diabetes, and this may partly be due to an unfavourable dietary composition.Objective: To evaluate the dietary intake of Danish men and women against the dietary recommendations,and to assess the daily glycaemic index (dGI) and the daily glycaemic load (dGL) of the diet.Design: Baseline data from the Danish population-based Inter99 study were used. Dietary intake of 6635 menand women between 30 and 60 years of age was assessed through a food frequency questionnaire. The dietaryintake was evaluated against the Nordic Nutrient Recommendations and the Danish food-based guidelines.Estimation of dGI and dGL was based on existing food tables.Results: Men in the Inter99 study had higher intakes of all fat types, protein, carbohydrate, dietary fibre,alcohol and fish (g day-1) compared with women, whereas women had higher intakes of fruit and vegetables(g day-1) compared with men. The dGI did not differ substantially between the genders, but men had ahigher dGL than women. The recommendations for total, saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturatedfat, carbohydrates, dietary fibre, fish, fruit and vegetables was met by less than 50% of the Inter99 population.Conclusions: The dietary composition in the Danish middle-aged population is not satisfactory comparedwith the recommendations, which may have detrimental consequences for health. The values of dGI and dGLwere reasonable, but higher than estimates found in other studies.Keywords: dietary assessment; dietary recommendations; food frequency questionnaire; glycaemic index;glycaemic load) compared with women, whereas women had higher intakes of fruit and vegetables(g day_1) compared with men. The dGI did not differ substantially between the genders, but men had ahigher dGL than women. The recommendations for total, saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturatedfat, carbohydrates, dietary fibre, fish, fruit and vegetables was met by less than 50% of the Inter99 population.Conclusions: The dietary composition in the Danish middle-aged population is not satisfactory comparedwith the recommendations, which may have detrimental consequences for health. The values of dGI and dGLwere reasonable, but higher than estimates found in other studies.Keywords: dietary assessment; dietary recommendations; food frequency questionnaire; glycaemic index;glycaemic load