Micronutrient dietary intakes and their food sources in adults: the Hellenic National Nutrition and Health Survey (HNNHS).
BACKGROUND
The present study aimed to assess micronutrient intake among Greek adults and to identify the main food sources that contribute to it.


METHODS
Food consumption data from 2389 participants in the Hellenic National Nutrition and Health Survey (HNNHS), collected with 24-h recalls, was used to calculate micronutrient intakes. Usual nutrient intake was estimated according to the National Cancer Institute method. Nutrient adequacy was estimated using the estimated average requirement (EAR) cut-point method, when available, or adequate intake otherwise. The probability approach was used to determine iron intake adequacy in females of reproductive age. Food group contribution for each nutrient assessed was derived to identify their main food sources.


RESULTS
Almost all individuals had vitamin D intake below EAR, whereas vitamins A, E, K and C, as well as potassium intake, were also insufficient in a considerable percentage of the population (>70% in most age groups). Calcium intake was substantially below the EAR for females aged >50 years and males >70 years; the same for magnesium in males >70 years. Furthermore, 50% of females, including those of reproductive age, had intake of folate below EAR. More than 50% of the population (to 79%) exceeded the upper tolerable limit for sodium (2300 mg day-1 ). Food contribution analysis revealed that most vitamins were derived from low-quality foods (i.e. fast-food).


CONCLUSIONS
A significant proportion of adults residing in Greece have low nutrient intake and poor food selections. These results provide guidance to public health policy makers for developing strategies to improve the dietary quality in Greece.
['Mitsopoulou|Anastasia Vasiliki|AV|', 'Magriplis|Emmanuela|E|0000-0001-6517-6857', 'Michas|George|G|', 'Micha|Renata|R|', 'Chourdakis|Michalis|M|', 'Chrousos|George P|GP|', 'Roma|Eleftheria|E|', 'Panagiotakos|Demosthenes B|DB|', 'Zampelas|Antonis|A|', 'Karageorgou|Dimitra|D|', 'Bakogianni|Ioanna|I|', 'Dimakopoulos|Ioannis|I|', 'Ntouroupi|Triantafyllia|T|', 'Tsaniklidou|Sophia-Maria|SM|', 'Argyri|Konstantina|K|', 'Fappa|Evangelia|E|', 'Theodoraki|Eleni-Maria|EM|', 'Trichia|Eirini|E|', 'Sialvera|Theodora-Eirini|TE|', 'Varytimiadi|Aggeliki|A|', 'Spyreli|Eleni|E|', 'Koutelidakis|Antonis|A|', 'Karlis|George|G|', 'Zacharia|Stauroula|S|', 'Papageorgiou|Anna|A|', 'Dedoussis|Georgios|G|', 'Dimitriadis|George|G|', 'Manios|Ioannis|I|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D004032:Diet D005260:Female D005502:Food D006115:Greece D006801:Humans D008297:Male D018977:Micronutrients D008875:Middle Aged D009749:Nutrition Surveys D009751:Nutritional Requirements D009752:Nutritional Status D064167:Recommended Dietary Allowances
nutrients food group contribution micronutrient adequacy usual intake