Food balance sheet and household budget survey dietary data and mortality patterns in Europe.

Worldwide dietary data for nutrition monitoring and surveillance are commonly derived from food balance sheets (FBS) and household budget surveys (HBS). We have compared food supply from FBS and food availability data from HBS among eighteen European countries and have estimated the extent to which they correlate, focusing on food groups which are comparably captured by FBS and HBS and for which there is epidemiological evidence that they can have a noticeable impact on population mortality. Spearman's correlation coefficient was +0.78 (P < 10- 3) for vegetables (including legumes),+0.76 (P < 10- 3) for fruits, +0.69 (P < 10- 3) for fish and seafood and +0.93 (P < 10- 3) for olive oil. With respect to meat and meat products, the coefficient was lower at +0.39 (P = 0.08). Moreover, we have examined whether the supply (FBS) or the availability (HBS) of food groups known or presumed to have beneficial effect on the occurrence of CHD and total cancer can predict overall, coronary and cancer mortality in ecological analyses. After controlling for purchasing power parity-adjusted gross domestic product and tobacco smoking we found that for vegetables, fruits, fish and seafood, as well as for olive oil, both the FBS and the HBS estimates were inversely associated with all three indicators of mortality, although the number of countries with complete information on all study variables hindered formal statistical documentation (P>0.05 in some instances). FBS and HBS have their own strengths and weaknesses, but they may complement each other in dietary assessments at the population level.

[Dietary survey in Hungary, 2003-2004. Micronutrients: vitamins]. / Táplálkozási vizsgálat Magyarországon, 2003-2004. Mikrotápanyagok: vitaminok.

The 3rd Hungarian National Nutritional Survey was carried out as a part of the National Population Health Study and the data collection was done in November/December of 2003. The survey comprised a sample of adults above 19 year of age, the dietary questionnaires of 1179 people could be evaluated. The results of energy and macro-nutrient intake were published in 2005, and the results of the mineral intake in 2007, in the Hungarian Medical Journal. This paper focuses on the intake of vitamins. For the evaluation of the results authors used the data of the two previous national surveys, data of some dietary studies of other countries, and the home and international intake recommendations. In respect of the data found in the present survey, it is a favourable trend that the intake of vitamins retinol equivalent, B1 , B6 and B12 , and niacin, as well as biotin was sufficient both in case of men and women, together with adequate vitamin E intake for men. However the intake of vitamin B2 , C, D, together with pantothenic acid and folic acid of both men and women did not meet the criteria of the Hungarian recommendations, besides the vitamin E intake of women was insufficient as well. In Hungary the intake of vitamin D, biotin, folic acid and pantothenic acid was measured at first at this National Dietary Survey. The authors vigorously stress the importance of the varied and healthy nutrition in the adequate vitamin supply of the population.

[Hungarian national dietary survey, 2003-2004. Micronutrients: mineral salts]. / Táplálkozási vizsgálat Magyarországon, 2003-2004. Mikro-tápanyagok: ásványi sók.

In the course of the 3rd national nutritional survey data were collected in 2003, and the paper on the energy and nutrition intake of a sample group consisting of 1179 people all aged above 19, was published in the Hungarian Medical Journal (Vol. 146, No. 34, 2005). The present paper focuses on one group of micronutrients, namely the minerals' intake. The authors evaluated the results mainly in comparison with the data of the two previous Hungarian national surveys, and the international and national recommendations. The average magnesium intake was considered adequate in both sexes, while iron, zinc and copper intakes also met the recommended level in men. On the other hand, the insufficient calcium and the excessive phosphorus intakes, as well as the disproportionate calcium-phosphorus ratio in both sexes are unfavourable facts. The adverse results include insufficient iron, zinc and copper intake in women and the excessive sodium intake in both sexes, as well. The authors emphasize the importance of spreading the principles of healthy nutrition as well as co-operating with the food industry in order to prevent the occurrence of mineral nutrients deficiency.

[Dietary survey in Hungary, 2003-2004]. / Táplálkozási vizsgálat Magyarországon, 2003-2004.

The third Hungarian national dietary survey was conducted in 2003-2004. This publication describes the first part of the energy and nutrient intake findings in a sample consisting of a population of 1179 persons over 19 years of age (energy and macro nutrients). Energy and nutrient intake values were calculated based on 3 x 24- hour dietary records filled out by the subjects themselves. The authors evaluated the results in light of the two previous dietary surveys in Hungary and the Hungarian and international reference intake data. The total fat intake found in this survey lower than the previous data marks a favourable development, just as the higher unsaturated fatty acid and lower saturated fatty acid energy percent, and furthermore the lower cholesterol intake level. The favourable developments include further a polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio considerably higher than that obtained earlier (the values conforming to the international reference data), a higher carbohydrate energy percentage, as well as lower added sugar energy percentage, this latter being in the recommended range. The overweight ratio in men was 58.9%, while the female value was 49.5%, not much different from the previous survey data.

[Healthy nutrition and the prevention of cancer]. / Az egészséges táplálkozás és a daganatos betegségek megelózése.

A number of risk factors of cancer diseases can be identified in the diet of the Hungarian population, and also one may infer the presence of these risk factors from statistics on food purchasing, the results of household budget surveys and those of earlier nutrition surveys. These risk factors are: overweight and obesity involving two thirds of the male and half of the female population, insufficient vegetable and fruit consumption, insufficient wholemeal cereal consumption, inadequate dietary fibre intake, high sugar intake, regular heavy drinking, as well as high fat, animal fat, cholesterol and salt intakes. The messages for decreasing the risks of cancer diseases--as presented herein--have been included in the recommendations for healthy nutrition aimed at eliminating the risk factors of diet-related diseases.