Dietary patterns in the Belfast MONICA Project

Abstract

The EURONUT Dietary Survey was one of a number of nutrition surveys by the Belfast MONICA Project (multinational monitoring of trends and determinants in cardiovascular disease; WHO, 1983). Screening for the EURONUT Project took place between September 1985 and September 1986. Of the 401 men studied, 356 successfully kept a 3-day weighed dietary record. The mean daily energy intake was 9929 kJ, protein 82.6, total carbohydrate 272.5, dietary fibre 20.4 and total fat 100.3 g. Of the total fat 43.5, 36.9 and 12.5 g were saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated, respectively. Mean daily dietary cholesterol was 309.1 mg and average alcohol intake was 14.6 g. Mean daily intakes of minerals and vitamins were: potassium and sodium each 3 g, calcium 928.6 mg and magnesium 323.9 mg; retinol 1029 μg, carotene 2056.4 μg and ascorbic acid 59.5 mg. The percentage energy supplied from protein and carbohydrate was 14.2 and 43.2, respectively, including alcohol, and 14.9 and 44.4, excluding alcohol. Corresponding values for total fat were 38 and 40.2. For men 45 to 54 and 55 to 64 years old serum cholesterol was 6.19 and 6.12 mmol/litre and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol 1.22 and 1.28 mmol/litre.