Dietary intake of whole grains.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to provide national estimates of whole-grain intake in the United States, identify major dietary sources of whole grains and compare food and nutrient intakes of whole-grain consumers and nonconsumers. METHODS: Data were collected from 9,323 individuals age 20 years and older in USDA's 1994-96 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals through in-person interviews on two non-consecutive days using a multiple-pass 24-hour recall method. Foods reported by respondents were quantified in servings as defined by the Food Guide Pyramid using a new database developed by the USDA. Whole-grain and nonwhole-grain servings were determined based on the proportion, by weight, of the grain ingredients in each food that were whole grain and nonwhole grain. Sampling weights were applied to provide national probability estimates adjusted for differential rates of selection and nonresponse. Then, t tests were used to assess statistically significant differences in intakes of nutrients and food groups by whole-grain consumers and nonconsumers. RESULTS: According to the 1994-96 survey, U.S. adults consumed an average of 6.7 servings of grain products per day; 1.0 serving was whole grain. Thirty-six percent averaged less than one whole-grain serving per day based on two days of intake data, and only eight percent met the recommendation to eat at least three servings per day. Yeast breads and breakfast cereals each provided almost one-third of the whole-grain servings, grain-based snacks provided about one-fifth, and less than one-tenth came from quick breads, pasta, rice, cakes, cookies, pies, pastries and miscellaneous grains. Whole-grain consumers had significantly better nutrient profiles than nonconsumers, including higher intakes of vitamins and minerals as percentages of 1989 Recommended Dietary Allowances and as nutrients per 1,000 kilocalories, and lower intakes of total fat, saturated fat and added sugars as percentages of food energy. Consumers were significantly more likely than nonconsumers to meet Pyramid recommendations for the grain, fruit and dairy food groups. CONCLUSION: Consumption of whole-grain foods by U.S. adults falls well below the recommended level. A large proportion of the population could benefit from eating more whole grain, and efforts are needed to encourage consumption.

Sodium intake trends and food choices.

Since 1980 General Mills Inc has regularly conducted studies of the mean daily intake of 25 nutrients from nationally representative samples of 4000 American households (approximately 10,000 individuals). This paper examines trends in sodium consumption derived from these studies. Calculated estimates of both discretionary and nondiscretionary intake indicate that overall sodium consumption has declined since the early 1980s. Shifts in food sources of sodium have occurred over the 10-y study period, with the greatest amounts of sodium coming from meats and mixed dishes. Greater interest in the sodium content of the diet is predicted because of the daily value listing on the new food label and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's campaign to reduce sodium intake. Until an acceptable alternative for the salty taste from sodium chloride is available, offering reduced-sodium alternatives and gradually reducing the sodium content of existing products appears to be the food industry's best approach to meet consumers' concerns about sodium.

Estimated dietary calcium intake and food sources for adolescent females: 1980-92.

PURPOSE: To estimate dietary calcium intake of three groups of adolescent females ages 11-12 years, 13-14 years, and 15-18 years during four separate 2-year time periods from the years 1980-92; and to identify their food sources of calcium. METHODS: Nutrient intake survey based on 14-day food consumption records collected from four national representative samples of 4,000 United States households. RESULTS: Dietary calcium consumption declined significantly (p < .01) over the 10-year period for the 15-18 year olds. Calcium intake was significantly lower for 13-14 year olds compared to the youngest age group, and for 15-18 year olds when compared to the two younger age groups for all four study periods (p < .01). Over 90% of all adolescent females consumed < 100% of the RDA for calcium during all data collection periods. The percentage of adolescent females who consumed less than two-thirds of the RDA increased with age. Seventy-seven percent of 15-18 year olds consumed below this level from 1990-92. Milk and milk products were the best food sources of calcium contributing over one-half of the calcium to the diet. This percentage declined over time and with age to 44% for the 15-18 year old females in 1990. This drop can be attributed to a 7-12% decline in fluid milk consumption for the 11-12 year olds and 15-18 year olds, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Estimates indicate that dietary calcium intakes fall far short of both the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommendations. Intakes have declined over time, with age, and appear to be related to a decline in fluid milk consumption. Efforts to increase calcium consumption among adolescent females appear critical. Clear recommendations to consume a minimum of three servings everyday of lowfat or nonfat dairy products such as milk and yogurt are needed to help this population meet daily calcium requirements.

Nutrient intakes of 2- to 10-year-old American children: 10-year trends.

Nutrient intakes of American children aged 2 to 10 years were compared for the years 1978 and 1988 using a unique nutrient assessment system designed and developed by the Nutrition Department at General Mills. This system integrated data from three sources: 14-day food consumption diaries collected from 4,000 households in the Market Research Corporation of America Menu Census panel surveys; serving-size data from the spring 1977 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey; and nutrient data from the Michigan State University Nutrient Data Bank. The results indicate that energy and macronutrient intakes remained fairly constant over the 10-year period. Average daily vitamin and mineral intakes were lower in 1988 than in 1978 for the majority of those studied; however, most nutrient levels remained over 100% of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs). For more than 50% of the population, the intakes of calcium, vitamin B-6, and zinc were below the RDAs. Our findings indicate the need for continued monitoring of the impact of changing food consumption patterns on the diets of American children.