N. F. C. Devlin

Dietary fat intakes in Irish adults in 2011: how much has changed in 10 years?

Imbalances in dietary fat intakes are linked to several chronic diseases. This study describes dietary intakes and food sources of fat and fatty acids in 1051 Irish adults (aged 18-90 years), using data from the 2011 national food consumption survey, the National Adult Nutrition Survey. It also compares current intakes for 18-64-year-olds with those reported in the last such survey in 2001, the North/South Ireland Food Consumption Survey. Dietary fat intakes were estimated using data from 4-d semi-weighed (2011) and 7-d estimated (2001) food diaries. In 2011, intakes for 18-64-year-olds were as follows: total fat, 34·1 (sd 6·1) % total energy (%TE); SFA, 13·3 (sd 3·3) %TE; MUFA, 12·5 (sd 2·6) %TE; PUFA, 6·1 (sd 2·2) %TE; and trans-fat, 0·511 (sd 0·282) %TE. Apart from MUFA, intakes decreased (P65 years had the highest intakes of SFA; however, intakes were typically higher than UK-recommended values for all groups. In contrast, intakes of long-chain n-3 fatty acids were lowest in younger age groups. Intakes of trans-fat were well within UK-recommended levels. Although there have been some improvements in the profile of intakes since 2001, imbalances persist in the quantity and quality of dietary fat consumed by Irish adults, most notably for total and SFA and for younger age groups for long-chain n-3 fatty acids.

Plasma fatty acid patterns reflect dietary habits and metabolic health: A cross-sectional study

SCOPE Using pattern analysis, we investigated the relationship between plasma fatty acid patterns, dietary intake, and biomarkers of metabolic health using data from the Irish National Adult Nutrition Survey. METHODS AND RESULTS Plasma fatty acid patterns were derived from 26 plasma fatty acids using k-means cluster analysis. Four clusters were identified, each with a distinct fatty acid profile. Cluster 1 included high proportions of linoleic acid (LA) and low proportions of stearic acid (SA); cluster 2 was higher in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and SA; the profile of cluster 3 was higher in very-long-chain saturated fatty acid (VLCSFA) and lower in α-linolenic acid (ALA) (cluster 3); while cluster 4 was higher in fatty acids related to de novo lipogenesis and 20:3n-6 and lower in LA (cluster 4). In general, cluster 4 was associated with adverse metabolic profile and higher metabolic risk (p < 0.033). Clusters 2 and 3 were associated with healthier and protective phenotypes (p < 0.033). CONCLUSION Distinct fatty acid patterns were identified which were related to demographics, dietary habits, and metabolic profile. A pattern higher in VLCSFA and lower in ALA was associated with healthier metabolic outcome.

Identifying core foods for total diet studies: a comparison of four different approaches

Total diet studies (TDS) are recognised as a cost-effective approach in estimating dietary exposure to chemicals in food. It has been advised that candidate foods for inclusion in TDS analysis should represent a large part of the typical diet to estimate accurately the exposure of a population group. To date a variety of approaches have been used to determine which foods should be included in a core TDS food list, with no agreed method. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare four of these approaches by creating TDS food lists for adult populations in Europe using summary statistics data from the EFSA Comprehensive Food Consumption Database. Both a food group approach and a total diet approach were employed, and foods were selected for inclusion in the TDS food lists if they met the criteria as defined by consumption weight and/or a 5% consumer rate. Using all four approaches the representation of the diet across the TDS food lists was > 85%. The food group approach showed a slight advantage in diet representation, but produced considerably longer TDS food lists in comparison with the total diet approach. The addition of a 5% consumer rate to both approaches had little impact on results. In conclusion, the total diet approach may act as a more cost-effective approach in comparison with the food group approach while still achieving comprehensive results in the creation of core TDS food lists.

A conceptual framework for the collection of food products in a Total Diet Study

ABSTRACT A total diet study (TDS) provides representative and realistic data for assessing the dietary intake of chemicals, such as contaminants and residues, and nutrients, at a population level. Reproducing the diet through collection of customarily consumed foods and their preparation as habitually eaten is crucial to ensure representativeness, i.e., all relevant foods are included and all potential dietary sources of the substances investigated are captured. Having this in mind, a conceptual framework for building a relevant food-shopping list was developed as a research task in the European Union’s 7th Framework Program project, ‘Total Diet Study Exposure’ (TDS-Exposure), aimed at standardising methods for food sampling, analyses, exposure assessment calculations and modelling, priority foods, and selection of chemical contaminants. A stepwise approach following the knowledge translation (KT) model for concept analysis is proposed to set up a general protocol for the collection of food products in a TDS in terms of steps (characterisation of the food list, development of the food-shopping list, food products collection) and pillars (background documentation, procedures, and tools). A simple model for structuring the information in a way to support the implementation of the process, by presenting relevant datasets, forms to store inherent information, and folders to record the results is also proposed. Reproducibility of the process and possibility to exploit the gathered information are two main features of such a system for future applications.

A harmonised approach for identifying core foods for total diet studies

Total diet studies (TDS) are used to gather information on chemical substances in food, thereby facilitating risk assessments and health monitoring. Candidate foods for inclusion in a TDS should represent a large part of a typical diet to estimate accurately the exposure of a population and/or specific population groups. There are currently no harmonised guidelines for the selection of foods in a TDS, and so the aim of this study was to explore the possibility of generating a harmonised approach to be used across Europe. Summary statistics data from the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) Comprehensive Food Consumption Database were used in this research, which provided data from national food consumption surveys in Europe. The chosen methodology for the selection of foods was based on the weight of food consumed and consumer rate. Using the available data, 59 TDS food lists were created, representing over 51 000 people across 17 countries and seven population groups. All TDS food lists represented > 85% of the populations’ diets (85.9–96.3%), while the number of foods in the TDS food lists ranged from 15 to 102. Comparison of the TDS food lists indicated that the most commonly consumed foods included wheat bread and rolls, pastries and cakes, tomatoes, apples, bananas, and chicken, while cow’s milk, tap water and orange juice were the most commonly consumed beverages across Europe. This work was complete to support EFSA and other institutions in the development of harmonised TDS into the future.

Intakes of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in an Irish pre-school population

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have been positively associated with cognitive and visual development in infants and young children. There is no global consensus regarding recommended intakes in pre-schoolers, although EFSA advise a mean daily intake of 0.5% of total energy (TE) ALA and 100 mg/d DHA for children aged 6–24 months. For adults, a combined intake of P250 mg/d EPA & DHA is recommended. Currently, there is no data on intakes of omega-3 PUFA for Irish pre-school children, therefore this analysis aimed to characterise intakes of ALA, EPA and DHA using data from the National Pre-school Nutrition Survey (NPNS). The NPNS examined habitual food and beverage intakes of 500 Irish children aged 1–4 years during 2010–2011. In this analysis, the NPNS database was updated for fatty acid content (g/100 g) using manufacturer’s information and published food composition databases. Mean daily intakes and compliance with EFSA recommendations were assessed and the main food sources contributing to omega-3 PUFA intakes identified.

Dietary intakes of wholegrain in Irish children and teenagers

Regular consumption of wholegrain foods has been associated with a number of health benefits including a reduced risk of developing cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. However, information on wholegrain intakes in the Irish population is lacking. The aim of this study was to quantify wholegrain intakes in a representative sample of Irish children and teenagers using the National Children’s Food Survey (NCFS; ages 5–12 years, n 594) and the National Teen’s Food Survey (NTFS; ages 13–17 years, n 441) (www.iuna.net). Both surveys examined habitual food and beverage consumption using a 7 day food diary. Brand information, including ingredient listings, was subsequently recorded in the Irish National Food Ingredient Database (INFID), with each brand linked to consumption data. In the current analysis, the presence or absence of wholegrain was confirmed at food and brand level, and information on the grain ingredients present were ascribed using food package labelling, comparable products and recipe databases specific for the NCFS and NTFS.