A posteriori dietary patterns in 71-year-old Swedish men and the prevalence of sarcopenia 16 years later.

The role of diet in sarcopenia is unclear, and results from studies using dietary patterns (DP) are inconsistent. We assessed how adherences to a posteriori DP are associated with the prevalence of sarcopenia and its components 16 years later. Four DP were defined in the Uppsala Longitudinal Study of Adult Men at baseline (n 1133, average age 71 years). Among 257 men with information at follow-up, 19 % (n 50) had sarcopenia according to the European Working Group on sarcopenia in Older People 2 definition. Adherence to DP2 (mainly characterised by high intake of vegetables, green salad, fruit, poultry, rice and pasta) was non-linearly associated with sarcopenia; adjusted OR and 95 % CI for medium and high v. low adherence: 0·41 (0·17, 0·98) and 0·40 (0·17, 0·94). The OR per standard deviation (sd) higher adherence to DP2 was 0·70 (0·48, 1·03). Adjusted OR (95 % CI) for 1 sd higher adherence to DP1 (mainly characterised by high consumption of milk and cereals), DP3 (mainly characterised by high consumption of bread, cheese, marmalade, jam and sugar) and DP4 (mainly characterised by high consumption of potatoes, meat and egg and low consumption of fermented milk) were 1·04 (0·74, 1·46), 1·19 (0·71, 2·00) and 1·08 (0·77, 1·53), respectively. There were no clear associations between adherence to the DP and muscle strength, muscle mass, physical performance or sarcopenia using EWGSOP1 (sarcopenia n 54). Our results indicate that diet may be a potentially modifiable risk factor for sarcopenia in old Swedish men.

Vitamin D status in children and adults in Sweden: dietary intake and 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in children aged 10-12 years and adults aged 18-80 years.

The study aimed to estimate vitamin D intake and plasma/serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations, investigate determinants of 25(OH)D concentrations and compare two 25(OH)D assays. We conducted two nationwide cross-sectional studies in Sweden with 206 school children aged 10-12 years and 1797 adults aged 18-80 years (n 268 provided blood samples). A web-based dietary record was used to assess dietary intake. Plasma/serum 25(OH)D was analysed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and immunoassay in adults and LC-MS/MS in children. Most participants reported a vitamin D intake below the average requirement (AR), 16 % of children and 33 % of adults met the AR (7⋅5 µg). In adults, plasma 25(OH)D below 30 and 50 nmol/l were found in 1 and 18 % of participants during the summer period and in 9 and 40 % of participants during the winter period, respectively. In children, serum 25(OH)D below 30 and 50 nmol/l were found in 5 and 42 % of participants (samples collected March-May), respectively. Higher 25(OH)D concentrations were associated with the summer season, vacations in sunny locations (adults), and dietary intake of vitamin D and use of vitamin D supplements, while lower concentrations were associated with a higher BMI and an origin outside of Europe. Concentrations of 25(OH)D were lower using the immunoassay than with the LC-MS assay, but associations with dietary factors and seasonal variability were similar. In conclusion, vitamin D intake was lower than the AR, especially in children. The 25(OH)D concentrations were low in many participants, but few participants had a concentration below 30 nmol/l.

Associations between dietary patterns at age 71 and the prevalence of sarcopenia 16 years later.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The growing recognition of the significance of sarcopenia has highlighted the need to understand etiologic factors, where food intake likely plays a role. The aim was to investigate the association between dietary patterns at mean age 71 and the prevalence of sarcopenia at mean age 87 in a Swedish cohort of community dwelling men. METHODS: Dietary habits were assessed using a 7-day food record. Adherences to official dietary guidelines, defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) by using the Healthy Diet Indicator, and Mediterranean-like dietary habits by using the Mediterranean Diet Score, were calculated. Sarcopenia was determined using the definition from the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) and associations to each dietary pattern were analyzed using logistic regression, adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: Our study population included 254 men, mean age 71 at baseline, and 53 (21%) were defined as sarcopenic 16 years later. There was no linear relationship between increased adherence to WHO dietary guidelines and future prevalence of sarcopenia, although those with medium adherence seemed to be protected (crude OR = 0.41, 95% CI 0.19-0.92). On the other hand, an inverse relationship to sarcopenia was found for each SD increment in the Mediterranean diet score (crude OR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.46-0.99), which remained after adjusting for potential confounders. Sensitivity analysis indicated relationships to be independent of changes in physical activity and dietary misreporting. CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective study of elderly men, using a single measure of diet at age 71 as a reflection of habitual dietary habits, healthy dietary patterns tended to protect against the development of sarcopenia over 16 years. In particular, we found indications that increased adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern might be advantageous.

Dietary intake and biomarker status of folate in Swedish adults.

PURPOSE: National data on folate status are missing in Sweden, and regional data indicate folate insufficiency in up to more than 25% of the study populations. The objectives were to determine folate intake and status in the adult Swedish population as well as identifying dietary patterns associated with beneficial folate status. METHODS: Folate intake was estimated using a web-based 4-d food record in adults aged 18-80 years (n = 1797). Folate status was measured as erythrocyte (n = 282) and plasma folate concentrations (n = 294). Factor analysis was used to derive a dietary pattern associated with a higher folate status. RESULTS: Median folate intake was 246 µg/day (Q 1 = 196, Q 3 = 304, n = 1797) and for women of reproductive age 227 µg/day (Q 1 = 181, Q 3 = 282, n = 450). As dietary folate equivalents (DFE), median intake was 257 µg/day (Q 1 = 201, Q 3 = 323) and for women of reproductive age 239 µg/day (Q 1 = 185, Q 3 = 300). Low blood folate concentrations were found in 2% (erythrocyte concentrations <317 nmol/L) and 4% (plasma concentrations <6.8 nmol/L) of the participants, respectively. None of the women of reproductive age had erythrocyte folate concentrations associated with the lowest risk of neural tube defects. Dietary patterns associated with higher folate status were rich in vegetables, pulses and roots as well as cheese and alcoholic beverages, and low in meat. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of low erythrocyte folate concentrations was low in this population, and estimated dietary intakes are well above average requirement. However, to obtain a folate status optimal for prevention of neural tube defects major dietary changes are required and folic acid supplements recommended prior to conception.

Ability to predict resting energy expenditure with six equations compared to indirect calorimetry in octogenarian men.

The accuracy of predictive equations for calculating resting energy expenditure (REE) in elderly people has been questioned. Aging is associated with progressive declines in REE, which partly is explained by loss of fat free mass (FFM). Against this background we aimed to identify the most accurate predictive equation for REE in octogenarian men, taking body composition into account and using indirect calorimetry as reference value. REE was measured in 22 men (mean age 82.6±0.3years) and compared with six predictive equations: two based on FFM and four based on body weight, height and/or age. FFM was derived from Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry analyses. Spearman's rank correlations showed a moderate to high positive monotonic correlation (r=0.62 to 0.79) between measured and calculated REE (all p<0.005).The mean calculated REE was significantly different from measured REE for all equations except Mifflin-St Jeor. A calculated REE within 10% of measured REE was considered acceptable and the equations of Mifflin-St Jeor, WHO and Harris-Benedict captured 64%, 50% and 45% of the participant, respectively. The Mifflin-St Jeor equation had the lowest root mean square error (138kcal), followed by the equation by Harris-Benedict (189kcal) and WHO (220kcal). The equations from Luhrmann, Henry and Cunningham predicted REE rather poorly in our study subjects, with e.g. <40% of the individuals within 10% of measured REE. Our results indicate that the Mifflin-St Jeor equation (using FFM) is the most accurate equation estimating REE in these octogenarian men. Harris-Benedict or WHO equations are potential alternatives if information on FFM is unavailable, although their accuracy on an individual level is limited.

Energy and nutrient intakes of Swedish children in relation to consumption of and habits associated with school lunch.

AIMS: School lunches are provided free in Sweden, although some children choose not to eat school lunch. The aim of this study was to analyse Swedish children's total energy and nutrient intakes on weekdays by the frequency of school lunch consumption and to analyse energy and nutrient intakes from school lunches by sex. Factors associated with children's school lunch habits were also studied. METHODS: Children in grades 2 and 5 ( n=1905) completed a food diary (school lunch data available for 1840 children) and the mean energy and nutrient intakes per day and per school lunch were calculated. The children also completed questions on the frequency of school lunch consumption and school lunch habits. Logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with school lunch habits. RESULTS: Children who reported eating school lunch every day had significantly higher energy and absolute nutrient intakes than children reporting eating school lunch less than five times a week, but not standardized for energy. Boys had significantly higher energy and absolute nutrient intakes from school lunches than girls, but not standardized for energy. Younger children and children who liked school lunches had higher odds of eating school lunch every day. Children in grade 5, those with a foreign background and those disliking school lunches had higher odds of omitting the main lunch component. CONCLUSIONS: Regular school lunch consumption was associated with a higher total intake for most nutrients, but not a better nutrient density. School lunch habits were associated with age, ethnic background and liking school lunches.

Dietary habits, nutrient intake and biomarkers for folate, vitamin D, iodine and iron status among women of childbearing age in Sweden.

BACKGROUND: Dietary intake and nutritional status are important for pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes. Dietary advice on folate, targeted to women of childbearing age, aims at preventing neural tube defects in the offspring. AIM: To describe food and nutrient intake and nutritional status among women of childbearing age in Sweden in relation to current nutrition recommendations. METHODS: Dietary intake was assessed using a web-based four-day consecutive food record among adults aged 18-80 years-'Riksmaten 2010-11 adults'. In a subsample, biomarkers of folate, vitamin D, iodine, and iron status were assessed. RESULTS: Women of childbearing age had lower intakes of fruit and vegetables, fish, and whole grains, but higher intakes of soft drinks. Macronutrient composition was generally in line with the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations, except for a lower intake of fibre, a higher intake of saturated fatty acids, and added sugars. Mean intakes of vitamin D, folate, and iron were below recommended intakes (RI). Median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was 74 µg/L, 20% had insufficient vitamin D status, and 3% low folate concentrations with no age differences. Furthermore, 29% of women 18-44 years of age had depleted iron stores. CONCLUSIONS: The dietary pattern among women of childbearing age (18-44 years) was less favourable compared to older women. Intakes of some micronutrients were below RI, but no differences in vitamin D, folate, or iodine status between age groups were observed. However, improvements of folate and iodine status among women of childbearing age are warranted. This can be achieved by following dietary guidelines including use of folic acid-containing supplements.

Dietary patterns in Swedish adults; results from a national dietary survey.

Dietary patterns derived by statistical procedures is a way to identify overall dietary habits in specific populations. The aim of this study was to identify and characterise dietary patterns in Swedish adults using data from the national dietary survey Riksmaten adults 2010-11 (952 women, 788 men). Principal component analyses were used and two patterns were identified in both sexes: a healthy pattern loading positively on vegetables, fruits, fish and seafood, and vegetable oils, and negatively on refined bread and fast food, and a Swedish traditional pattern loading positively on potatoes, meat and processed meat, full-fat milk products, sweet bakery products, sweet condiments and margarine. In addition, a light-meal pattern was identified in women with positive loadings on fibre-rich bread, cheese, rice, pasta and food grain dishes, substitute products for meat and dairy products, candies and tea. The healthy pattern was positively correlated to dietary fibre (r 0·51-0·58) and n-3 (r 0·25-0·31) (all P<0·0001), and had a higher nutrient density of folate, vitamin D and Se. The Swedish traditional and the light-meal pattern were positively correlated to added sugar (r 0·20-0·25) and the Swedish traditional also to SFA (r 0·13-0·21) (all P<0·0001); both patterns were in general negatively correlated to micronutrients. Dietary pattern scores were associated with, for example, age, physical activity, education and income. In conclusion, we identified three major dietary patterns among Swedish adults. The patterns can be further used for examining the association between whole diet and health outcomes.

The contribution of school meals to energy and nutrient intake of Swedish children in relation to dietary guidelines.

BACKGROUND: In Sweden, school meals are served free of charge and Swedish law states that school meals must be nutritious. Nevertheless, data on children's energy and nutrient intake from school meals are scarce. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to describe the contribution of school meals to Swedish children's nutrient and energy intake during weekdays and compare this to the reference values based on the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR), which have been adopted as the official Swedish recommendations. DESIGN: A cross-sectional food consumption survey was performed on 1,840 Swedish children attending Grade 2 (mean age 8.6) and Grade 5 (mean age 11.7). The children's nutrient and energy intake was compared to the reference values based on the NNR. RESULTS: The mean intake from school meals of energy, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and vitamins D and E did not reach the reference values and the intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and sodium exceeded the reference values in both age groups (significant differences, all p≤0.001). Additionally, the pupils in Grade 5 did not reach the reference values for folate, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, selenium, and zinc (significant differences, all p≤0.001). Standardized for energy, dietary fiber, PUFA, and vitamins D and E did not reach the reference values, whereas the reference values for SFA and sodium were exceeded in both age groups (significant differences, all p≤0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The study pointed to some central nutrients in need of improvement as regards school meals in Sweden, namely the quality of fat, dietary fiber, sodium, vitamin D, and iron. Some of these results may be attributed to the children not reporting eating the recommended number of calories, the children omitting some components of the meal, or underreporting, as a consequence of which the reference values for several nutrients were not met.

Relative validation of the dietary intake of fatty acids among adults in the Swedish National Dietary Survey using plasma phospholipid fatty acid composition.

The aims of a national dietary study are several-fold. One purpose is to monitor the intake of foods and nutrients in the population and to compare intakes with dietary recommendations. It is, however, difficult to measure dietary fat intake and plasma biomarker fatty acid (FA) composition may be used as an objective measure of dietary fat intake. Thus, the relative ability of a diet record to capture habitual fat intake was validated against biomarker FA. Dietary fat intake was measured in a novel self-assisted web-based 4-d food record - the 'Riksmaten' method. Spearman rank correlations between dietary FA, certain food groups (fish-shellfish, dairy products, meat and sausages, and spreads) and the fat content of these food groups and biomarker FA were explored. Participants were 150 women and 129 men, aged 18-80 years, who took part in the Swedish National Dietary Survey, Riksmaten adults 2010-11. Blood samples were collected on average 20 d after the diet record and FA composition was measured in plasma phospholipids by GLC. Total n-3 FA (r 0·31), EPA (r 0·34) and DHA (r 0·42) were correlated between plasma and diet (all P ≤ 0·001). Adjustment for covariates attenuated the relationships. Linoleic acid was only marginally correlated (r 0·15; P = 0·06) in women. Plasma pentadecaenoic acid and heptadecaenoic acid were correlated with dairy product intake as previously reported. In conclusion, the Riksmaten method appears valid for the purpose of collecting data on dietary fat composition, at least in a healthy adult population.

Fatty acid composition of Swedish bakery products, with emphasis on trans-fatty acids.

Trans-fatty acids (TFA) have been associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease, by affecting blood lipids and inflammation factors. Current nutrition recommendations emphasise a limitation of dietary TFA intake. The aim of this study was to investigate fatty acid composition in sweet bakery products, with emphasis on TFA, on the Swedish market and compare fatty acid composition over time. Products were sampled in 2001, 2006 and 2007 and analysed for fatty acid composition by using GC. Mean TFA levels were 0.7% in 2007 and 5.9% in 2001 of total fatty acids. In 1995-97, mean TFA level was 14.3%. In 2007, 3 of 41 products had TFA levels above 2% of total fatty acids. TFA content had decreased in this product category, while the proportion of saturated (SFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids had increased, mostly through increased levels of 16:0 and 18:2 n-6, respectively. The total fat content remained largely unchanged.

Effect of the amount and type of dietary fat on cardiometabolic risk factors and risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer: a systematic review.

The effects of both the amount and quality of dietary fat have been studied intensively during the past decades. Previously, low-fat diets were recommended without much attention to the quality of fat, whereas there is general emphasis on the quality of fat in current guidelines. The objective of this systematic review (SR) was to assess the evidence of an effect of the amount and type of dietary fat on body weight (BW), risk factors, and risk of non-communicable diseases, that is, type 2 diabetes (T2DM), cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and cancer in healthy subjects or subjects at risk for these diseases. This work was performed in the process of updating the fourth edition of the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations from 2004. The literature search was performed in October 2010 covering articles published since January 2000. A complementary search was done in February 2012 covering literature until December 2011. Two authors independently selected articles for inclusion from a total of about 16,000 abstracts according to predefined criteria. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) and prospective cohort studies (PCS) were included as well as nested case-control studies. A few retrospective case-control studies were also included when limited or no data were available from other study types. Altogether 607 articles were quality graded and the observed effects in these papers were summarized. Convincing evidence was found that partial replacement of saturated fat (SFA) with polyunsaturated fat (PUFA) or monounsaturated fat (MUFA) lowers fasting serum/plasma total and LDL cholesterol concentrations. The evidence was probable for a decreasing effect of fish oil on concentration of serum/plasma total triglycerides as compared with MUFA. Beneficial effect of MUFA both on insulin sensitivity and fasting plasma/serum insulin concentration was considered as probable in comparisons of MUFA and carbohydrates versus SFA, whereas no effect was found on fasting glucose concentration in these comparisons. There was probable evidence for a moderate direct association between total fat intake and BW. Furthermore, there was convincing evidence that partial replacement of SFA with PUFA decreases the risk of CVD, especially in men. This finding was supported by an association with biomarkers of PUFA intake; the evidence of a beneficial effect of dietary total PUFA, n-6 PUFA, and linoleic acid (LA) on CVD mortality was limited suggestive. Evidence for a direct association between total fat intake and risk of T2DM was inconclusive, whereas there was limited-suggestive evidence from biomarker studies that LA is inversely associated with the risk of T2DM. However, there was limited-suggestive evidence in biomarker studies that odd-chain SFA found in milk fat and fish may be inversely related to T2DM, but these associations have not been supported by controlled studies. The evidence for an association between dietary n-3 PUFA and T2DM was inconclusive. Evidence for effects of fat on major types of cancer was inconclusive regarding both the amount and quality of dietary fat, except for prostate cancer where there was limited-suggestive evidence for an inverse association with intake of ALA and for ovarian cancer for which there was limited-suggestive evidence for a positive association with intake of SFA. This SR reviewed a large number of studies focusing on several different health outcomes. The time period covered by the search may not have allowed obtaining the full picture of the evidence in all areas covered by this SR. However, several SRs and meta-analyses that covered studies published before year 2000 were evaluated, which adds confidence to the results. Many of the investigated questions remain unresolved, mainly because of few studies on certain outcomes, conflicting results from studies, and lack of high quality-controlled studies. There is thus an evident need of highly controlled RCT and PCS with sufficient number of subjects and long enough duration, specifically regarding the effects of the amount and quality of dietary fat on insulin sensitivity, T2DM, low-grade inflammation, and blood pressure. New metabolic and other potential risk markers and utilization of new methodology in the area of lipid metabolism may provide new insight.

Dietary patterns and prostate cancer risk: report from the population based ULSAM cohort study of Swedish men.

Dietary pattern analyses have increased the possibilities to detect associations between diet and disease. However, studies on dietary pattern and prostate cancer are scarce. Food intake data in the Uppsala Longitudinal Study of Adult Men cohort was determined by 7-day food records. Adherence to a modified Mediterranean Diet Score (mMDS) and a low carbohydrate-high protein (LCHP) score were grouped as low, medium, or high in the whole study population (n = 1,044) and in those identified as adequate reporters of energy intake (n = 566), respectively. Prostate cancer risk was analyzed with Cox proportional hazard regression (median follow-up 13 years) and competing risk of death was considered. There were no associations between dietary patterns and prostate cancer (n = 133) in the whole study population. Among adequate reporters the mMDS was not associated with prostate cancer (n = 72). The LCHP score was inversely related to prostate cancer in adequate reporters, adjusted hazard ratios; 0.55 (0.32-0.96) for medium and 0.47 (0.21-1.04) for high compared to low adherent participants (P-for-trend 0.04). Risk relations were not attributable to competing risk of death. In this study, a LCHP diet was associated with lower prostate cancer incidence. Relations emerged in adequate reporters, underscoring the importance of high-quality dietary data.

Assessment of dietary cadmium exposure in Sweden and population health concern including scenario analysis.

The median dietary cadmium exposure for adults in Sweden is around 1 µg/kg/week and the upper 95th and 99th percentiles are 1.6-1.8 and 1.9-2.2 µg/kg/week, respectively. Potatoes and wheat flour were the most important food categories, contributing with 40-50% to the exposure. Differences in dietary patterns between high and low exposed individuals were observed; for high exposed individuals, seafood and spinach contributed with an exposure similar to that low exposed individuals received from potatoes and wheat flour. Consequences of differences in methodology used for exposure assessment are discussed. The median exposure is a factor 2 lower compared to that estimated by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). It is also a factor 1.4 lower compared to that of the assessment used for development of the EFSA tolerable weekly intake (TWI). The potential importance of this latter fact was addressed by adjusting the present assessment to that used for TWI derivation. While the percentage of the population exceeding the TWI was <1% for the present data, it was around 3% for adjusted data, which is more in line with observations at the level of urinary cadmium. Scenario analysis was also performed to addresses the consequence of increasing/decreasing cadmium occurrence levels.

Mediterranean and carbohydrate-restricted diets and mortality among elderly men: a cohort study in Sweden.

BACKGROUND: Comparative studies on dietary patterns and long-term mortality are sparse. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to examine the relations between 10-y mortality and adherence to the World Health Organization dietary guidelines [Healthy Diet Indicator (HDI)], a Mediterranean-like diet, and a carbohydrate-restricted (CR) diet in elderly Swedish men. DESIGN: Dietary habits were determined by 7-d dietary records in a population-based longitudinal study of 924 Swedish men (age: 71 ± 1 y). The HDI score (-1 to 8 points), the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS; 0-8 points), and the CR score (2-20 points) were calculated for each participant. Nonadequate reporters of energy intake were identified (n = 413). Mortality was registered during a median follow-up of 10.2 y. Cox proportional hazards regression, with multivariable adjustments, was used to determine the effects of adherence to each dietary pattern. RESULTS: Two hundred fifteen and 88 subjects died of all-cause and cardiovascular disease, respectively. In all individuals, risk relations to mortality for each SD increment in the scores were observed for only MDS, with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 0.83 (95% CI: 0.70, 0.99). Among adequate dietary reporters (n = 511), adjusted HRs for each SD increment in scores were enhanced for MDS (ie, 0.71; 95% CI: 0.55, 0.92) for all-cause mortality and 0.63 (95% CI: 0.42, 0.96) for cardiovascular mortality. Corresponding HRs for CR diet score were 1.19 (95% CI: 0.97, 1.45) for all-cause mortality and 1.44 (95% CI: 1.03, 2.02) for cardiovascular mortality. CONCLUSION: Adherence to a Mediterranean-like dietary pattern reduced mortality, whereas adherence to a CR dietary pattern appeared to increase mortality in elderly Swedish men, especially when only adequate dietary reporters were considered.

Comparison between optical readable and open-ended weighed food records.

BACKGROUND: A simplified optically readable food record (ORFR) was developed and compared with an open-ended weighed record (WR). OBJECTIVE: To compare intake of nutrients and foods using a seven-day ORFR with intake estimated using a seven-day WR. The results from each method were validated against 24-h urinary nitrogen excretion and energy intake (EI)/estimated basal metabolic rate (BMR) cut-off values. DESIGN: The study comprised 73 free-living, healthy 70-year-old Swedish men. Dietary data were collected during seven consecutive days, starting either with WR or ORFR. RESULTS: Average intakes of energy and several nutrients were significantly lower when estimated using ORFR than when using WR. However, when adjusted for nutrient density, only a few nutrients were still lower with ORFR. Spearman correlation coefficients between the two methods regarding intakes of energy and energy-yielding nutrients were moderate to high, i.e. 0.4-0.6, while figures for most micro-nutrients were in the range 0.3-0.5. A large proportion of subjects under-reported their EIs, a higher proportion doing so when using ORFR. Protein intake obtained using ORFR was 31% lower than the values calculated from the 24-h urine nitrogen excretion, and 22% lower than those obtained from WR. Average intakes of milk, cheese and other milk products as well as coffee, tea and alcohol were significantly higher when estimated using ORFR than when using WR, while intakes of vegetables, meat and meat products, fish, bread and cereal products as well as number of sweet foods were significantly lower with ORFR. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, adjustments of some portion sizes in ORFR are suggested. In view of the advantages of ORFR with respect to lower response burden and rapid processing of data, such adjustments would make ORFR a suitable dietary assessment tool for use in dietary surveys, including larger resource-demanding epidemiological investigations.

Exposure to dioxin-like pollutants via different food commodities in Swedish children and young adults.

The dietary intake of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and biphenyls (PCBs) in terms of toxic equivalents (TEQs) was investigated in Swedish children and young adults. Exposure was estimated from concentration data of six groups of individual food commodities (meat, fish, dairy products, egg, edible fats and other foodstuff) combined with food intake data from a 7-day record book obtained from 670 individuals aged 1-24 years. The results showed that Swedish boys and girls, up to the age of ten, had a median TEQ intake that exceeded the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 2 pg TEQ/kg body weight. Children exceeding the TDI varied from almost all individuals among the youngest children to about 20% among young men and women. Dairy and fish products were the main sources of exposure for the average child, accounting for 59% of the total TEQ intake. The individuals most highly exposed were, on the other hand, characterized by a high consumption of fish. Since children constitute a vulnerable group, results obtained from the present study show that it is essential to perform age specific dietary intake assessments of pollutants and more carefully consider sensitive and/or highly exposed groups in the population in the risk management processes.

Use of functional foods among Swedish consumers is related to health-consciousness and perceived effect.

The aim of the present study was to survey attitudes to and use of functional foods and to investigate which demographic variables and attitudes to diet and health predict consumption of functional foods among Swedish consumers. A questionnaire was developed and sent to 2000 randomly selected Swedish citizens aged between 17 and 75 years. A total of 972 (48%) responded, 53% were female and 44% male. Mean age was 45 years. The results revealed that 84% of respondents were familiar with the concept of functional foods; 83% had consumed/purchased at least one of the seven functional food products presented in the questionnaire. Of those who had consumed a functional food, 25% had perceived effect of it. Positive correlations were seen between consumers perceiving a personal reward from eating functional foods, having an interest in natural products and an interest in general health. Consumption/purchase of functional foods was related to beliefs in the effects of the products, having consumed nutraceuticals or dietary supplements, having a diet-related problem personally or in the family, and a high level of education. The characteristic Swedish functional food consumer has a high level of education, is health-conscious and interested in healthy foods and believes in the health effect of functional foods. Thus, factors other than demographics better explain consumption of FF. However, the study population may represent a more health-conscious segment of the Swedish population in general. Additional studies are therefore required to elucidate the attitudes and use of FF in different consumer groups.