Food consumption patterns in the adult population of the Basque Country (EINUT-I).

OBJECTIVE: Dietary surveys are a valuable tool in nutrition surveillance programmes to monitor the nutritional status of a group or population of a country. The objective of this study was to assess the food consumption pattern in the adult population of the Basque Country (Spain). DESIGN: A cross-sectional nutritional survey was carried out in 1990. Dietary habits were assessed by means of '24-h recall' during 3 non-consecutive days and a food frequency questionnaire. SETTING: Population survey in the Basque Country (Spain). SUBJECTS: Random sample of the adult population (25-60 years) in the Basque Country (n = 2348). RESULTS: Results draw a food pattern characterized by a high consumption of meat, 163+/-3.04 g day(-1) (mean +/- SEM), supplied mainly by poultry, butchery products, veal and fish (88+/-2.68 g day(-1)). The average consumption of milk and dairy products was 359+/-5.19 g day(-1), although 39% of the sample did consume less than 2 portions from this group of foods daily. Olive oil was the most widely used fat for cooking (45%), followed by sunflower seed oil (30%). Cereals supplied 21.5% of the average energy intake and the consumption of vegetables and garden products was 159+/-3.13 g day(-1). Only 29% of the group usually had 2 or more portions of vegetables per day. Women consumed higher amounts of chocolate, cookies, sweets and coffee (P < 0.01) than men. Younger adults consumed more meat (P < 0.01), while the older community consumed more fish, vegetables and fruit (P < 0.01). More highly educated people consumed more dairy products, vegetables and butter (P < 0.01). Conversely, less educated people consumed higher amounts of olive oil, pulses and bread (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The dietary pattern observed in the Basque Country, although in keeping with its traditions, is in harmony with the actual dietary trends in Mediterranean countries. In order to satisfy the dietary guidelines suggested by the Spanish Society of Community Nutrition, it would be desirable to gradually increase the consumption of vegetables, fresh garden produce, fruit and cereals. At the same time, it would be advisable to decrease the consumption of animal products (whole fat dairy products, meat, added fats) so the proportion of energy intake from fat can be reduced by 5% (3% from saturated fatty acids).

Nutritional assessment of folate and cyanocobalamin status in a Spanish elderly group.

This study is part of a broader examination of the nutritional status of elderly people in Spain. Cyanocobalamin and folate status were determined in a group of 72 non-institutionalized elderly (34 males and 38 females), aged 65 to 89, living in the Comunidad Autonoma de Madrid (Spain) by means of dietetic and biochemical data. We also studied the influence of the vitamin status on some haematologic parameters, as for example the MCV (mean corpuscular volume). Our results show that the average intake of vitamin B12 (6.3 +/- 0.9 micrograms/day) was three times the recommended amount, and that the blood levels were, in general, satisfactory (721.61 +/- 93 pg/ml). However, in 41.6% of the cases folate intake (213.8 +/- 92.4 micrograms/day) was below the recommended amount and serum (4.74 +/- 15 ng/ml) and red blood cells folate levels (115.37 +/- 36.7 ng/ml) also showed a deficient situation for 80% of the studied elderly. The influence of folate status on MCV of the studied elderly was evident. Elderly with MCV > or = 100 mu 3 (7.4% of the cases), had significantly lower intakes of folate (132.8 +/- 36.1 micrograms/day) and lower serum levels (3.93 +/- 0.4 ng/ml) than elderly with MCV < 100 mu 3 (who had intakes of 235.3 +/- 14.8 micrograms/day and serum levels of 4.81 +/- 1.48 ng/ml). Our results show that cyanocobalamin deficiency is not very frequent among the studied elderly, whereas folate deficiency has a great incidence and can have negative effects on their health.

[Repercussion of the application of povidone-iodine to the umbilical stump on thyroid function of the neonate at term]. / Repercusión sobre la función tiroidea del RN a término de la aplicación de povidona iodada en el muñón umbilical.

We have studied blood TSH and T4 5-7 days after birth in 356-healthy newborns whose umbilical stump had been treated with 10% povidone-iodine. The prevalence of high TSH levels (above 20 microU/ml) was higher in this group than in the general population (3.09% vs 0.417%, p less than 0.001), and so was the rate of transient hypothyroidism (2.73% vs 0.25%, p less than 0.001). Both differences were related to the number of applications of iodine given. All children were found to be normal at retesting one week later. This study adds new evidence on the high vulnerability of newborn thyroid to small iodine doses and further discourages the use of povidone-iodine for the care of umbilical stump.

[Problems of neonatal screening for hypothyroidism in the very low birth-weight neonate]. / Problemática del despistaje neonatal del hipotiroidismo en el recién nacido de muy bajo peso.

21,013 newborns were screened on the first year of a neonatal screening program on congenital hypothyroidism in the Basque Community. The evaluation of the results showed some points of interest. One of them, would be the high analytical retesting rate needed in the screening of very low-birth weight children. The rate decreased with increasing birth-weight. Forty per cent of the children with a birth-weight lower than 1,000 gr needed retesting. The rate decreased to 7.7% at birth-weights between 1,001 and 1,500 gr, to 2% at birth weights between 1,501 and 2,500 gr and only to 0,42% at birth-weights higher than 2,501 gr. The consequences of these results are discussed.