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...
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MDPI AG
2018-04-01
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Series: | Antioxidants |
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Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/7/4/58 |
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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 |
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