Abstract
2 min readObjective: To evaluate the intake of vitamins (such as A, B 1 , B 2 , B 3 (niacin), B 6 , B 12 , C, D, E, andfolic acid) together with elements (such as magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron and zinc) by a sample of population from rural Galicia (N.W. Spain) in order to detect groups at risk with micronutrient deficient intake and develop a dietary education policy. Design: Cross-sectional assessment of the diet from a representative sample of rural Galician population by means of a 24-hour dietary recall questionnaire (in three visits on non-consecutive days). Subjects: 981 healthy subjects of both sexes aged 20-64 years (482 belonging to three inland municipalities and 499 from three coastal municipalities) were evaluated along one year since Spring 1994 till Winter 1995. Main outcome measures: The data were analysed by sex, age group, season and geographical area to determine the influence of these variables in micronutrient intake, and were compared with published recommendations for the Spanish population. Results: Intakes of Ca/P, iron, zinc, magnesium, folic acid and vitamins A, D and probably C were deficient, while consumption of vitamins contained in protein-rich foods of animal origin, such as niacin and cyanocobalamine, was two or three times higher than necessary. Conclusions: To correct for these dietary anomalies, dietary and nutritional education policy should aim to increase consumption of legumes and other vegetables, cereals and fruits, specially by young people. In general, there should also be an increase in the intake of dairy products (preferably dairy products enriched with vitamin D), and a reduction in the consumption of meat products, replacing them by blue fish. Sponsorship: This work was financed by Instituto de Desarrollo Comunitario (IDC) in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, NW Spain, an organization dedicated to rural development. Descriptors: dietary habits, micronutrient intake, elements, vitamins, Galicia.
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