Dietary intake of macro- and micronutrients in Slovenian adolescents: comparison with reference values.

摘要

Data on a nationally representative dietary intake in Central Europe is lacking. This study investigated the diet of adolescents in Slovenia. Dietary habits were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (n = 2661), and present nutrition was assessed using a 3-day weighted dietary protocol (n = 197) for validation purposes. Dietary intake was calculated and compared with Central European (German (D), Austrian (A), and Swiss (CH); D-A-CH) recommendations and WHO/FAO recommendations. Adolescents exceeded reference intake values of free sugars (boys 16% of energy, girls 17%), saturated fatty acids (SFA; 13% of energy), and Na (boys 203%, girls 210% of the WHO/FAO upper limit), but below reference intake values of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; boys 5% of energy; girls 6%), water (boys 1786 ml/day, girls 2016 ml/day), and fibre density (only girls 2.8 g/MJ, p < 0.001). Among micronutrients, below reference intakes (% of D-A-CH: boys and girls, respectively, p < 0.05) were reported for folate (64 and 69%), fluoride (28 and 31%) and Ca (91 and 97%), as well as for vitamin D (20 and 20%). It is concluded that the dietary habits of Slovenian adolescents are less than optimal. They are characterized by above reference intake values of free sugars, salt and SFA, and below reference intakes of PUFA, water and several micronutrients.