ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Breakfast consumption has been recommended as part of a healthy diet. Recently, ready-to-eat cereals (RTEC) became more popular as a breakfast item. Our aim was to analyse the dietary characteristics of an RTEC breakfast in European adolescents and to compare them with other breakfast options. METHODS: From the European multi-centre HELENA study, two 24-h dietary recalls of 3137 adolescents were available. Food items (RTEC or bread, milk/yoghurt, fruit) and macro- and micronutrient intakes at breakfast were calculated. Cross-sectional regression analyses were adjusted for gender, age, socio-economic status and city. RESULTS: Compared to bread breakfasts (39 %) and all other breakfasts (41.5 %), RTEC breakfast (19.5 %) was associated with improved nutrient intake (less fat and less sucrose; more fibre, protein and some micronutrients like vitamin B, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus) at the breakfast occasion. Exceptions were more simple sugars in RTEC breakfast consumers: more lactose and galactose due to increased milk consumption, but also higher glucose and fructose than bread consumers. RTEC consumers had a significantly higher frequency (92.5 vs. 50.4 and 60.2 %) and quantity of milk/yoghurt intake and a slightly higher frequency of fruit intake (13.4 vs. 10.9 and 8.0 %) at breakfast. CONCLUSIONS: Among European adolescents, RTEC consumers showed a more favourable nutrient intake than consumers of bread or other breakfasts, except for simple sugars. Therefore, RTEC may be regarded as a good breakfast option as part of a varied and balanced diet. Nevertheless, more research is warranted concerning the role of different RTEC types in nutrient intake, especially for simple sugars.
Subject(s)
Breakfast , Edible Grain , Fast Foods , Fruit , Milk , White People , Adolescent , Animals , Child , Cross-Sectional Studies , Diet Surveys , Diet, Healthy , Dietary Fats/administration & dosage , Dietary Fats/analysis , Dietary Fiber/administration & dosage , Dietary Fiber/analysis , Dietary Sucrose/administration & dosage , Dietary Sucrose/analysis , Energy Intake , Female , Humans , Life Style , Linear Models , Male , Mental Recall , Micronutrients/administration & dosage , Micronutrients/analysis , Nutritive Value , Socioeconomic FactorsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study aims to analyse the association of European adolescents' ready-to-eat-cereal (RTEC) consumption frequency with their dietary intake by applying the concept of diet quality index and nutritional status. METHODS: From the multi-centre European HELENA study, relevant data were available in 1,215 adolescents (12.5-17.5 years). RTEC consumption was identified from a food frequency questionnaire. A diet quality index, daily nutrient intakes and daily milk/yoghurt and fruit intake were calculated from two 24-h dietary recalls. BMI, waist and hip circumference and body fat were measured for body composition. Cross-sectional regression analyses were adjusted for sex, age, socio-economic status, city and breakfast skipping. Differences in sub-regions within Europe were explored. RESULTS: RTEC consumers showed a more favourable daily micronutrient intake (vitamin B2, B5, B7, D, calcium, phosphorus and potassium), a better diet quality index, more frequent fruit (57 vs. 51%) and milk/yoghurt consumption (81.2 vs. 56%) and less breakfast skipping (25.1 vs. 36.7%). No differences in energy and macronutrient intake were observed. Daily RTEC consumers were 57% less likely to be overweight than RTEC non-consumers but did not differ in glucose and lipid status (N = 387). CONCLUSION: This is the first comprehensive pan-European survey elucidating socio-demographic determinants of European adolescents' RTEC consumption and indicating better dietary habits in RTEC consumers. The improved dietary profile was reflected in a more beneficial body composition. Our results have also shown the advantage of using an all-integrating diet quality index by capturing the diet complexity.
Subject(s)
Body Composition , Edible Grain , Fast Foods , Feeding Behavior , White People , Adolescent , Biomarkers/blood , Blood Glucose/metabolism , Body Mass Index , Breakfast , Cholesterol, HDL/blood , Cholesterol, LDL/blood , Cross-Sectional Studies , Energy Intake , Female , Humans , Linear Models , Male , Mental Recall , Nutritional Status , Socioeconomic Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires , Triglycerides/bloodABSTRACT
The consumption of whole grain foods is associated with many nutritional, health and weight control benefits. The present study assessed whole grain intake in France on the basis of a 7 d dietary survey in a representative sample of children, adolescents and adults (Comportements et Consommations Alimentaires en France 2010 survey). Special care was taken to identify and assess the intake of all whole grains. All foods consumed were considered, with no lower limit on whole grain content. For the majority of foods, details regarding the whole grain contents were obtained from brand information and quantitative nutrient declarations on food labels. Over half of the respondents reported never consuming any whole grain. In participants who did, consumption levels were very low (about 9·1 g/d in children and 14·4 g/d in adults). The main food sources of whole grains were breakfast cereals in children and adolescents and bread in adults. Consumers of whole grains had higher daily intakes of fibre and several vitamins and minerals than non-consumers. In adults but not in children, the OR for overweight/obesity decreased significantly as the level of whole grain consumption increased. Although a majority of French consumers comply with the national recommendation to consume a starchy food with each meal, they do so with minimal consumption of whole grain foods.
