Trends in Food Consumption Among Children Aged 1-4 Years by Participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, United States, 2005-2018.

BACKGROUND: In 2009, the US Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food packages were revised to include more whole fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lower-fat milk. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe trends over time in the consumption of fruits (total and whole), vegetables, whole grains, milk (whole, reduced fat, low-fat or nonfat (LFNF), and flavored), and added sugars, including breakfast cereals, by WIC participation status (current WIC recipient, WIC income-eligible nonrecipient, and WIC income-ineligible nonrecipient). METHODS: Dietary intakes on a given day for 1- to 4-y-old children (n = 5568) from the 2005-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analyzed to examine trends in the percentage of individuals consuming and amounts consumed over time using linear regression adjusted for age, sex, and race and Hispanic origin. RESULTS: From 2005 through 2018, the percentage of WIC recipients or WIC income-eligible nonrecipients consuming fruits and vegetables on a given day did not change, but the percentage of fruit consumed as whole fruit increased significantly among WIC recipients (36.4%-62.1%), but not among income-eligible nonrecipients. Among the WIC recipients, the percentage of consumption (5.5%-29.3%), the amount of LFNF milk servings consumed (0.1-0.4 cups), and the percentage of the total milk consumed as LFNF milk (4.8%-27%) significantly increased from 2005 to 2018. Conversely, the percentage of energy (12.3%-10.8%) and servings (11.4-10.6 teaspoons) from added sugars declined significantly. Among WIC-eligible nonrecipients, the servings of whole grains increased significantly, whereas servings and percentage of energy from added sugars declined significantly. CONCLUSIONS: From 2005 through 2018, changes in dietary patterns for WIC recipients did not always mirror those of US children of the same age. The percentage of fruit consumed as whole fruit, and the percentage and quantity of milk consumed as LFNF milk increased significantly among WIC recipients, but not among income-eligible nonrecipients. J Nutr 20XX;xx:xx-xx.

The Contribution of Discrete Vegetables, Mixed Dishes, and Other Foods to Total Vegetable Consumption: US Ages 2 Years and Over, 2017-2018.

BACKGROUND: The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend intake of a variety of vegetables, including dark green, red, and orange vegetables and starchy and other vegetables. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to describe sociodemographic differences in the contribution of different categories of vegetables and the form in which they are consumed (ie, discrete vegetables, mixed dishes, and other foods such as savory snacks to total vegetable intake on a given day). DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional, secondary analysis of the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: This study included the data of 7122 persons aged 2 years with reliable day 1 24-hour dietary recalls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serving equivalents of vegetables from 20 discrete categories of vegetables and from mixed dishes and other foods as a percentage of total vegetables. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Pairwise differences by age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, and family income were examined using univariate t statistics, and trends by age and income were examined using orthogonal polynomials. RESULTS: Mean serving equivalents of vegetables was 1.4 cups. The serving equivalents increased with age among youth, was higher among non-Hispanic Asian (NHA) persons than other subgroups, and increased with increasing family income. Overall, discrete vegetables contributed 55.2% of total vegetable intake, and the contribution increased with age in adults and with increasing family income. The top 5 discrete vegetable contributors were other vegetables and combinations, french fries and other fried white potatoes, lettuce and lettuce salads, mashed potatoes and white potato mixtures, and baked or boiled white potatoes. Nonstarchy discrete vegetables contributed more to total vegetables for adults (37.6%) than youth (28.0%), and the contribution increased with increasing family income. On the other hand, the contribution of mixed dishes and other foods decreased with increasing family income. CONCLUSIONS: Discrete vegetables only contributed 55.2% of total vegetable intake, and the top sources were not varied. Three of them potato based, which may explain the reported low vegetable intake, relative to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. More than one-third of vegetables consumed were nonstarchy discrete vegetables, many of which are high in vitamins. Nonstarchy discrete vegetable intake was higher in adults than youth and increased with family income.

Dietary Polyphenol Intake in US Adults and 10-Year Trends: 2007-2016.

BACKGROUND: Polyphenols are a class of phytochemicals that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antiviral properties. Previous research suggests that dietary polyphenol intake is protective against major chronic diseases. To our knowledge, no data on polyphenol intake for the US adult population are available. OBJECTIVE: This study explored usual dietary polyphenol intake among US adults in 2013-2016 and examined trends in intake during 2007-2016 by demographic characteristics, and identified major dietary sources of polyphenols. DESIGN: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey is a series of cross-sectional surveys representative of the civilian noninstitutionalized US population. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: This study included 9,773 adults aged 20 years and older. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Dietary and supplement data were obtained from two 24-hour dietary recalls. Polyphenol intake was estimated using the Phenol Explorer Database and adjusted for total energy intake. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS PERFORMED: Usual intake was estimated both overall and by demographic characteristics using the National Cancer Institute method. Trends in intake on a given day over 10 years were evaluated using regression analysis. The complex survey design was incorporated in all analyses. RESULTS: In 2013-2016, the usual intake of dietary polyphenols was a mean (standard error) of 884.1 (20.4) mg per 1,000 kcal/d. Polyphenol intake was higher in adults 40 years and older, women, non-Hispanic White adults, and college graduates. During 2007-2016, the mean daily polyphenol intake did not change significantly over time for overall and demographic groups. Main polyphenol classes consumed were phenolic acids (mean [standard error] of 1,005.6 [34.3] mg/d) and flavonoids (mean [standard error] of 379.1 [10.7] mg/d). Foods and beverages contributed 99.8% of polyphenol intake, with coffee (39.6%), beans (9.8%), and tea (7.6%) as major dietary contributors. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study suggest that polyphenol intake is consistent with the low intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in the US population, and provide more evidence of the need for increased consumption of these food groups.