Macronutrient and Major Food Group Intake in a Cohort of Southern Italian Adults

Background: Dietary intake of macronutrient and foods is considered crucial to decrease the risk of diet-related non-communicable diseases. Methods: The aim of this study was to describe the intake of major food groups and macronutrients in a random sample of 1838 southern Italian adults. Results: N...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Serena Mulè, Mariagiovanna Falla, Alessandra Conti, Dora Castiglione, Isabella Blanco, Armando Platania, Maurizio D’Urso, Marina Marranzano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2018-04-01
Series:Antioxidants
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/7/4/58
_version_ 1797709716458045440
author Serena Mulè
Mariagiovanna Falla
Alessandra Conti
Dora Castiglione
Isabella Blanco
Armando Platania
Maurizio D’Urso
Marina Marranzano
author_facet Serena Mulè
Mariagiovanna Falla
Alessandra Conti
Dora Castiglione
Isabella Blanco
Armando Platania
Maurizio D’Urso
Marina Marranzano
author_sort Serena Mulè
collection DOAJ
description Background: Dietary intake of macronutrient and foods is considered crucial to decrease the risk of diet-related non-communicable diseases. Methods: The aim of this study was to describe the intake of major food groups and macronutrients in a random sample of 1838 southern Italian adults. Results: No significant differences of macronutrient consumption between sexes were found. By contrast, younger individuals had significantly higher intake of animal protein than older ones. Men reported consuming significantly more total processed meats and less eggs than women; egg consumption significantly increased by age groups. Significantly lower intake of fruit in the younger age group compared to older ones was found. Various patterns of correlation between food groups were described. More than half of individuals reached the suggested recommendations for carbohydrate and fiber intake, and about two-thirds met the recommendations for total protein and cholesterol intake, while only a minority met for total fat intake. Total and plant protein, monounsaturated and omega-6 fatty acids, were significantly inversely related with BMI (body mass index), while trans fatty acids and cholesterol were directly correlated. A direct association with unprocessed meats and an inverse association with processed meats was also found. Conclusions: The overall findings suggest that relatively healthy dietary habits are common in southern Italy.
first_indexed 2024-03-12T06:41:45Z
format Article
id doaj.art-0b389a9538054e3ca4f0ba072f9db9aa
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2076-3921
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-12T06:41:45Z
publishDate 2018-04-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Antioxidants
spelling doaj.art-0b389a9538054e3ca4f0ba072f9db9aa2023-09-03T00:56:21ZengMDPI AGAntioxidants2076-39212018-04-01745810.3390/antiox7040058antiox7040058Macronutrient and Major Food Group Intake in a Cohort of Southern Italian AdultsSerena Mulè0Mariagiovanna Falla1Alessandra Conti2Dora Castiglione3Isabella Blanco4Armando Platania5Maurizio D’Urso6Marina Marranzano7Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, ItalyProvincial Health Authority of Catania, 95127 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, ItalyBackground: Dietary intake of macronutrient and foods is considered crucial to decrease the risk of diet-related non-communicable diseases. Methods: The aim of this study was to describe the intake of major food groups and macronutrients in a random sample of 1838 southern Italian adults. Results: No significant differences of macronutrient consumption between sexes were found. By contrast, younger individuals had significantly higher intake of animal protein than older ones. Men reported consuming significantly more total processed meats and less eggs than women; egg consumption significantly increased by age groups. Significantly lower intake of fruit in the younger age group compared to older ones was found. Various patterns of correlation between food groups were described. More than half of individuals reached the suggested recommendations for carbohydrate and fiber intake, and about two-thirds met the recommendations for total protein and cholesterol intake, while only a minority met for total fat intake. Total and plant protein, monounsaturated and omega-6 fatty acids, were significantly inversely related with BMI (body mass index), while trans fatty acids and cholesterol were directly correlated. A direct association with unprocessed meats and an inverse association with processed meats was also found. Conclusions: The overall findings suggest that relatively healthy dietary habits are common in southern Italy.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/7/4/58macronutrientsfood intakebody mass indexdietary recommendationscohort
spellingShingle Serena Mulè
Mariagiovanna Falla
Alessandra Conti
Dora Castiglione
Isabella Blanco
Armando Platania
Maurizio D’Urso
Marina Marranzano
Macronutrient and Major Food Group Intake in a Cohort of Southern Italian Adults
Antioxidants
macronutrients
food intake
body mass index
dietary recommendations
cohort
title Macronutrient and Major Food Group Intake in a Cohort of Southern Italian Adults
title_full Macronutrient and Major Food Group Intake in a Cohort of Southern Italian Adults
title_fullStr Macronutrient and Major Food Group Intake in a Cohort of Southern Italian Adults
title_full_unstemmed Macronutrient and Major Food Group Intake in a Cohort of Southern Italian Adults
title_short Macronutrient and Major Food Group Intake in a Cohort of Southern Italian Adults
title_sort macronutrient and major food group intake in a cohort of southern italian adults
topic macronutrients
food intake
body mass index
dietary recommendations
cohort
url http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/7/4/58
work_keys_str_mv AT serenamule macronutrientandmajorfoodgroupintakeinacohortofsouthernitalianadults
AT mariagiovannafalla macronutrientandmajorfoodgroupintakeinacohortofsouthernitalianadults
AT alessandraconti macronutrientandmajorfoodgroupintakeinacohortofsouthernitalianadults
AT doracastiglione macronutrientandmajorfoodgroupintakeinacohortofsouthernitalianadults
AT isabellablanco macronutrientandmajorfoodgroupintakeinacohortofsouthernitalianadults
AT armandoplatania macronutrientandmajorfoodgroupintakeinacohortofsouthernitalianadults
AT mauriziodurso macronutrientandmajorfoodgroupintakeinacohortofsouthernitalianadults
AT marinamarranzano macronutrientandmajorfoodgroupintakeinacohortofsouthernitalianadults