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Patterns of food and nutrient intakes in Italy and their application to the development of food-based dietary guidelines

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 August 2007

Aida Turrini*
Affiliation:
Istituto Nazionale della Nutrizione, Via Ardeatina, 546, I-00178 Rome, Italy
Catherine Leclercq
Affiliation:
Istituto Nazionale della Nutrizione, Via Ardeatina, 546, I-00178 Rome, Italy
Amleto D'Amicis
Affiliation:
Istituto Nazionale della Nutrizione, Via Ardeatina, 546, I-00178 Rome, Italy
*
*Corresponding author: Dr A. Turrini, fax +39 6 503 1592, email turrini@inn.ingrm.it
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Abstract

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Patterns of food and nutrient intakes in Italy were estimated starting from a nationwide food survey carried out by the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) in 1994–6, called INN-CA 1995. The present analysis looks at food and nutrient intakes of the subsample of the adults (18–60-year-old individuals). In particular, the two extreme quartiles of the distribution of total fat intake expressed as percentage of energy were considered in the analysis. The results showed that the subjects included in the fourth quartile (high-fat consumers) consumed fewer vegetables than the subjects in the first quartile (low-fat consumers). Furthermore, high-fat consumers had a tendency to have an unbalanced diet, whereas the low-fat consumers present a better pattern. In synthesis, 50% of the adults reach the goal of at least 400g of vegetables and fruit daily, and 25% consume less than 30 % of energy from total fats. Convincing that part of the population whose diet does not comply with dietary goals to come back to the Mediterranean tradition might be a priority for nutrition education in Italy.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1999

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