1. 3 / 182 2. Compare 3. Results 1. Input Comp RDA Reference: Title:
A specially designed database to understand micronutrient intake in different European countries: micronutrients to take care off
Authors:
Dr. Jan de Vries
Workcenter:
De Vries Nutrition Solutions
Background
For daily health adequate vitamin and mineral levels are important. This is best measured by blood levels. However, sampling blood is invasive,difficult and expensive at large scale. Measuring dietary intake is often used to estimate the micronutrient status in populations. Both governments and food companies use results of these food consumption surveys, comparing results with nutrient reference values (NRV), for their policies and strategies to enable optimisation of micronutrient intake.
Objective
To get adequate and quick estimates of potential micronutrient inadequacies in different age groups for men and women in different European countries
Comp RDA
Country 1
Country 2
Country x
Database
2. Compare
3. Results
1. Input
Methods
A database specifically designed to compare nutrient intakes versus NRV was developed. It accommodates both data from food consumption surveys and existing NRV, like Lower Reference Nutrient Intake (LRNI), Estimated Average Requirement (EAR), Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) and Tolerable Upper Level (TUL). The two types of datasets in one database allow quick comparisons of average micronutrient intake with reference values of interest.
Results
The adequacy of the model was tested in a proof of principle comparison with the original data of the food survey data (NDNS ) from the UK. The test demonstrated that the outcomes of the 2 methods were rather similar with only some small differences. Initial comparisons of the average intake of several micronutrients in several age-groups in France (see example left) with the RNI, EAR LRNI and TUL demonstrate that for some micronutrients, like zinc and iron, a substantial part of female individuals is not reaching the RNI, EAR or even the LRNI. The model demonstrates a comparable situation for these minerals in the UK.
Discussion
Method is based on the assumption that:
Nutrient intake recommendations are based on normal distributed estimates for intake
Food survey data follow comparable normal distribution patterns
Food surveys provide an estimate of daily food intake
Conclusions
The database allows for a rapid estimation of the percentage of a population at risk for micronutrients using food consumption survey data.
Initial results show that not all micronutrient intakes are optimal
This study was sponsored by Kellogg Company