ERICA: intake of macro and micronutrients of Brazilian adolescents

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To describe food and macronutrient intake profile and estimate the prevalence of inadequate micronutrient intake of Brazilian adolescents.METHODS Data from 71,791 adolescents aged from 12 to 17 years were evaluated in the 2013-2014 Brazilian Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA). Food intake was estimated using 24-hour dietary recall (24-HDR). A second 24-HDR was collected in a subsample of the adolescents to estimate within-person variability and calculate the usual individual intake. The prevalence of food/food group intake reported by the adolescents was also estimated. For sodium, the prevalence of inadequate intake was estimated based on the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL). The Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) method used as cutoff was applied to estimate the prevalence of inadequate nutrient intake. All the analyses were stratified according to sex, age group and Brazilian macro-regions. All statistical analyses accounted for the sample weight and the complex sampling design.RESULTS Rice, beans and other legume, juice and fruit drinks, breads and meat were the most consumed foods among the adolescents. The average energy intake ranged from 2,036 kcal (girls aged from 12 to 13 years) to 2,582 kcal (boy aged from14 to 17 years). Saturated fat and free sugar intake were above the maximum limit recommended (< 10.0%). Vitamins A and E, and calcium were the micronutrients with the highest prevalence of inadequate intake (> 50.0%). Sodium intake was above the UL for more than 80.0% of the adolescents.CONCLUSIONS The diets of Brazilian adolescents were characterized by the intake of traditional Brazilian food, such as rice and beans, as well as by high intake of sugar through sweetened beverages and processed foods. This food pattern was associated with an excessive intake of sodium, saturated fatty acids and free sugar.

Anthropometry, dietary intake, physical activity and sitting time patterns in adolescents aged 15–17 years: an international comparison in eight Latin American countries

“…Results from the Brazilian Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA) were similar to those found in the present study. The estimates in ERICA for the mean contribution of macronutrients (as a % of TE intake) from protein (15.4 and 16.3%), carbohydrate (54.0 and 53.7%), total fat (30.9 and 30.2%) and saturated fat (11.3 and 10.8%) among females and males aged 14-17 years, respectively, were close to our results [41].…”

“…The high saturated fat intake confirmed by our study should be highlighted, as we can see on a global scale that American, Latin American and European adolescent populations have a high percentage of total energy intake that comes from this nutrient [38,39,41]. According to the FAO and the WHO, saturated fat should provide a maximum of 10% of total energy intake; but, in the present study, higher energy intake from this nutrient was reported by 46.8% of adolescents.…”

Fazer refeições com os pais está associado à maior qualidade da alimentação de adolescentes brasileiros

“…Data from a national survey in 2014 showed that one out of four Brazilian adolescents had excess weight and 8.4% were already obese 4 . Meanwhile, adolescents' dietary habits have been characterized by high consumption of ultra-processed foods, high in fats, sugars, and sodium, and low consumption of fruits and vegetables 5,6,7 . Factors contributing to this scenario include the familiar environment, which plays an important role in the development of eating habits in children and adolescents 8,9,10 .…”

Influence of Soft Drink Intake on the SalivarypH of Schoolchildren

“…Soft drinks are among the liquid foods most widely ingested by children and adolescents in Brazil [12]. Studies have shown that regular soft drinks are the second beverage most widely consumed during the meal by adolescents (28.6%) [13].…”