Food Group and Micronutrient Intake Adequacy among Children, Adults and Elderly Women in Greece

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to record the percentage of children, adults and elderly women in Greece meeting food and micronutrient intake recommendations. Additionally, the present study was aiming to identify the main food contributors of micronutrient intakes and assess the degree up to which meeting food intake recommendations also ensures micronutrient intake adequacy. Dietary intake data from three studies conducted in Greece (on 9–13-year-old children; 40–60-year-old adults; and 50–75-year-old women) were used to estimate mean intakes, the percentages of subjects meeting food and nutrient intake recommendations and the contribution of six core food groups to nutrient intake adequacy. The present study showed that more than 50% of children, adults and elderly women were failing to consume the recommended portions of vegetables, dairy and grains. Furthermore, children and adults consuming the recommended portions of individual core food groups had significantly lower percentages of inadequate micronutrient intakes compared to their counterparts not meeting food intake recommendations (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, even among those consuming the recommended portions from a specific core food group, the recommended intake of the corresponding micronutrient (for which this food group is the main contributor) was not always met. Indicatively, 18.2%–44.1% and 4.2%–7.0% of the populations under study were not meeting calcium and vitamin C intake recommendations, although they were consuming the recommended portions of dairy and fruits, respectively. In conclusion, these findings highlight the importance for public health policy makers to take all necessary initiatives to support the population in achieving the recommended intakes from all core food groups, but also emphasize on food variety to ensure adequate intake for all micronutrients.

Associations of Milk Consumption and Vitamin B2 and Β12 Derived from Milk with Fitness, Anthropometric and Biochemical Indices in Children. The Healthy Growth Study

“…The important role of dairy in ensuring nutrient intake adequacy and sufficient concentrations of nutrient status blood indices was recently reported for the population of schoolchildren examined in the present study [2,6]. These recent findings showed that dairy consumption contributes to 63.2% of dietary calcium intake and 28.1% of total dietary zinc intake, as well as to 47.2%, 42.9% and 17.3% of the total dietary intakes of vitamin B 12 , B 2 and B 6 respectively [2].…”

“…Milk and other dairy products (cheese and yogurt) are natural, rich sources of a wide range of essential nutrients [1,2]. In addition to their high protein content, daily consumption of dairy products contributes considerably to the overall diet quality and to the dietary intake adequacy of both vitamins (i.e., vitamins B 2 and B 12 ) and minerals (i.e., calcium, zinc, etc.)…”

“…In addition to their high protein content, daily consumption of dairy products contributes considerably to the overall diet quality and to the dietary intake adequacy of both vitamins (i.e., vitamins B 2 and B 12 ) and minerals (i.e., calcium, zinc, etc.) [1,2]. For these reasons, dairy products are an integral part of numerous national dietary guidelines, with the majority of these guidelines proposing consumption of 2–3 servings per day [3,4,5].…”

“…These recent findings showed that dairy consumption contributes to 63.2% of dietary calcium intake and 28.1% of total dietary zinc intake, as well as to 47.2%, 42.9% and 17.3% of the total dietary intakes of vitamin B 12 , B 2 and B 6 respectively [2]. The same data also showed that more that 50% of dairy consumption by the same population of Greek schoolchildren is attributed to milk intake, which subsequently contributes to 36.6%, 13.3%, 28.4%, 26.6% and 11.9% of the total dietary intakes of calcium, zinc, vitamin B 12 , B 2 and B 6 respectively [6].…”

“…In addition, the role of dairy calcium on faecal fat excretion, appetite control, fat mobilization and oxidation [13], has been proposed as another basis for explaining the inverse associations observed between dairy intake and adiposity indices. Furthermore, numerous metabolic and cellular functions are mediated by zinc (e.g., immune function, protein synthesis, wound healing, DNA synthesis, cell division) and vitamins B 2 and B 12 (e.g., energy production, fatty acid synthesis and oxidation, mitochondrial function, haemoglobin synthesis), in the total dietary intake of which dairy products, especially milk, has been reported to considerably contribute in children [2]. However, research has not examined whether the health benefits associated with dairy consumption can be attributed to the vitamins and minerals naturally present in dairy products.…”