Reference Daily Intake

About: Reference Daily Intake is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1564 publications have been published within this topic receiving 52794 citations.

Dietary habits and nutrient intake of Finnish adolescents.

Abstract: ObjectiveTo evaluate food and nutrient intake and especially eating during the school day among Finnish secondary-school pupils.DesignCross-sectional study. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire mailed to home and by 48 h dietary recall interviews performed at schools in 2007.SettingTwelve schools in three cities in Finland.SubjectsThe seventh grade pupils (a total of 1469 at the mean age of 13·8 years). Questionnaire data were available from 726 pupils and dietary data from a subgroup of 40 % (n 306).ResultsAccording to the questionnaire data, 40 % of the girls and 28 % of the boys reported eating fresh vegetables daily and the respective figures for fruit were 32 % and 23 %. Altogether, 71 % of the adolescents reported having school lunch every day. The average intake of sucrose was higher and the average intakes of fibre, iron, folate and vitamin D were lower than recommended. School lunch provided around 20 % of daily energy intake, while the recommended daily energy intake level is one-third. However, the school lunch as consumed was nutritionally superior to the other daily meals. Snacks provided 41 % of the daily energy. The most common sources of sucrose were sugary drinks.ConclusionsLow consumption of fruit and vegetables and abundant consumption of sucrose-rich drinks and snacks are the main problems in the diet of Finnish adolescents. The nutritional quality of the school lunch is good, but the supply of healthy snacks must be improved in schools. Schools can promote healthy eating habits by making healthy choices easy during the school day.

An examination of dietary intakes and nutritional status of chronic healthy spinal cord injured individuals.

Abstract: To examine the nutritional composition of the dietary intake of chronic healthy spinal cord injured (SCI) individuals, 33 subjects affiliated with 3 SCI rehabilitation centers logged their food consumption for 7 days. Prior to record keeping, subjects were trained by a registered dietitian on the accurate recording of their standard food choices and portion size, and were provided with scales to weigh food accurately. Dietary macro and micronutrients were analyzed with a computer software package, with nutritional analysis compared to the recommended daily allowances (RDA) of the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Analysis showed caloric intake to be 75% of that recommended for able bodies persons, with a high reliance on fat for calories. Fat intake accounted for 37.9% of calories, well above the recommended level of 30%, but typical of the American diet. The ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fat was approximately one half the recommended level, with carbohydrate calories averaging 16.5% below optimal RDA. Protein consumption was within normal range, but average dietary fiber was only 25% of recommended levels. Micronutrient analysis showed deficiencies in both water and fat-soluble vitamins, with suboptimal intake of multiple minerals. Given the apparent reliance on a high-fat and low-carbohydrate diet, this research shows that nutritional intervention and education of SCI persons are needed, and that a registered dietitian should be included in the SCI health care team.

Dietary vitamin c and uterine cervical dysplasia

Abstract: A case-control study of women with cervical abnormalities identified through Pap smears, was conducted in the Bronx, New York, to explore the relationship between nutritional intake and cervical dysplasia. Nutrient intake was estimated from computer analysis of three-day food records and 24-hour recall for 169 study participants (87 cases, 82 controls), including a subset of 49 pairs matched for age, race and parity. Mean vitamin C intake per day from three-day food record for controls was 107 mg, compared to 80 mg for cases (p less than 0.01). Analysis of matched pairs showed similar results; 29% of cases compared to 3% of controls in matched subset had vitamin C intake less than 50% of the recommended daily allowance, yielding a ten-fold increase in risk of cervical dysplasia as estimated by odds ratio (p less than 0.05). Younger age, greater frequency of sexual intercourse and younger age at first intercourse were associated with higher risk of cervical dysplasia. Multiple logistic analyses indicated that low vitamin C intake is an independent contributor to risk of severe cervical dysplasia when age and sexual activity variables are controlled. Approximately 35% of US women in their reproductive years have daily vitamin C intake below 30 mg, and 68% have vitamin C intake below 88 mg. If other studies confirm these findings, it may be important to explore a possible protective role of supplementary vitamin C for women at high risk of cervical cancer.