The strong, positive association of urinary sodium with systolic pressure of individuals concurs with Intersalt cross population findings and results of other studies. Higher urinary sodium is also associated with substantially greater differences in blood pressure in middle age compared with young adulthood. These results support recommendations for reduction of high salt intake in populations for prevention and control of adverse blood pressure levels.

These results suggest that LER may be overrepresented within specific population subgroups and that underreporting bias may not be food and nutrient neutral. This has implications for the design and interpretation of studies of diet and disease.

Study objectives-To identify groups within the UK male and female population who report similar patterns of diet. Design-National representative dietary survey, using seven day weighed dietary records, of men and women aged 16-64 years living in private households in Great Britain in 1986-7. Cluster analysis was used to aggregate participants into diet groups. Setting-Great Britain. Participants-1087 men and 1110 women. Results-93% of men and 86% of women fell into one of four distinct diet groups. Among men the most prevalent diet group was "beer and convenience food" (34% of the male population); second was "traditional British diet" (18%); third was "healthier but sweet diet" (17.5%) and fourth was "healthier diet " (17%). Among women, the most prevalent diet group was " traditional British diet" (32%); second, was "healthy cosmopolitan diet" (25%); third was a "convenience food diet" (21%); and fourth was "healthier but sweet diet" (15%). There were important diVerences in nutrient profile, sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics between diet groups. Conclusions-Cluster analysis identified four diet groups among men and four among women, which diVered not only in terms of reported dietary intakes, but also with respect to nutrient, social and behavioural profiles. The groups identified could provide a useful basis for development, monitoring and targeting of public health nutrition policy in the UK.

Objectives: Using a national representative sample to examine variation in fruit and vegetable consumption among adults in the UK, with particular reference to consumers with high and low reported intakes. Design: National representative dietary survey using 7-d weighed diet records of men and women aged 16 ± 64 y living in private households in the UK in 1986 ± 1987. Setting: The UK. Subjects: 1087 men and 1110 women. The sample was selected by a multi-stage random probability design. The response was 70%. Subjects with low energy intake were subsequently excluded. Main outcome measures: Food group, nutrient intake, physiological measures socio-economic, demographic and behavioural characterstics. Results: Consumption of fruit and vegetables was estimated. The sample was divided by sex into four quarter groups according to fruit and vegetable consumption. There were signi®cant similarities between quarter groups in fruit and vegetable and other food intake, nutrient intake, physiological measures, and socia-economic, demographic and behavioural variable. The lowest consumers of fruit and vegetables had a mean intake of 738 gaweek (men) and 630 gaweek (women), equivalent to 1.3 and 1.1 portionad, respectively. Conversely, the mean intake of both men women with the highest consumption was 3137 gaweek (5.6 portions day). There were more than twice as many adults in the age group 16 ± 24 located in Q1 than in Q4. The Manual social class and those in receipt of bene®ts were negatively associated with fruit and vegetable consumption. Smokers were signi®cantly associated with low fruit and vegetable intake. Being married was associated with increased fruit and vegetable intake and being single or divorcedaseparated was associated with low fruit and vegetable intake. Eating home grown produce was associated with hogh intake. Consumers who lived in London or the South-East were associated with higher fruit and vegetable intake. Conclusions: The analysis draws attention to the wide variation in reported fruit and vegetable consumption among British adults. High consumers merit further investigation to elucidate practical strategies for increasing fruit and vegetable consumption. Strategies to increase consumption should be targeted at groups most likely to include low consumers of fruits and vegetables. Sponsorship: London School of Hygience and Tropical Medicine. Descriptors: fruit and vegetable; dietary surveys; nutrient and food intake; socio-economic variables

Salt intake, measured as 24-hour urine sodium excretion, is likely the rate-limiting factor of stomach cancer mortality at the population level.