Abstract

CENTRO DE ESTUDIOS SOBRE POLITICAS Y ECONOMIA DE LA ALIMENTACION (CEPEA). Consumption of foods rich in micronutrients in the Argentine population: adequating to the recommendations of the new food guidelines . Diaeta [online]. 2017, vol.35, n.159, pp.25-31. ISSN 1852-7337.

Introduction: The consumption of foods rich in micronutrients ensures appropiate levels of intake and at the same time, food patterns of good nutritional quality are associated with a lower risk of developing chronic diseases. The purpose of this paper is to describe the frequency of consumption of foods with high density of nutrients, their adequacy following the recommendations of food guides and the identification of nutrients with the highest risk of inadequacy. Materials and method: A survey following frequency of consumption of 34 selected foods was carried out using a national sample of 1000 people between 18 and 70 years of age, of both sexes and different socioeconomic levels, on a digital platform, online and through a semi-structured questionnaire with visual stimuli (photos) of different food sizes. The survey was conducted in December 2015. The reported intakes were compared with recommendations of Argentinean dietary guidelines. Results: In the food groups with higher density of nutrients, more than half of the sample referred consumptions that are not so frequent (3 times or less/week or no consumption). The lowest frequency of daily consumption was observed in vegetables and whole grains. Only 17% of respondents covered three or more of the five food groups simultaneously, while 22% failed to adequately cover any. Considering a suggested intermediate consumption guideline, the percentage covering 3 or more groups reached 34.5%. The percentage of people at risk of inadequacy in nutrient intake ranged from 23% to 67%. Conclusion: The study provides important conclusions for the professional community and the actors involved in decision-making processes. Interventions that improve the significant gaps in foods with high density in nutrients are needed.

Keywords : Nutrients density; Micronutrients; Food guidelines; Food frequency consumption.

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