title: Macronutrient and food intake in the Baltic republics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to describe mean macronutrient and food intakes in the Baltic republics, with a particular focus on fat, vegetable and fruit consumption.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from surveys conducted in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in the summer of 1997 were used. Information was collected using a 24 h recall of dietary intake and an interviewer-administered questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Representative national samples of adults were selected. All those with information from the dietary recall were included in the study (Estonia: n = 2015; Latvia: n = 2300; Lithuania: n = 2094).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean proportion of energy from fat was high in each country, but particularly in Lithuania (44%) and Latvia (42%) compared with Estonia (36%). In contrast, percentage energy from carbohydrate, protein and alcohol was higher in Estonia. Mean protein intake was generally sufficient if not high in some population sub-groups. Median vegetable intakes were very low (<200 g/day) in each country, particularly in Latvia. While 78% of the Lithuanian respondents consumed vegetables daily, this was the case in only 60% of the Latvian and 48% of the Estonian respondents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that there is a pressing need to replace high-fat energy dense foods by foods rich in complex carbohydrates and dietary fibre, such as vegetables and fruits, in the Baltic republics. This could provide the populations with a reduced risk and increased protection against non-communicable diseases. These issues will need to be tackled through comprehensive food and nutrition policies and health promotion campaigns.
authors: European Centre on Health of Societies in Transition, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Pomerleau
authors: M
authors: M
authors: McKee
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Robertson
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Kadziauskiene
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Abaravicius
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Vaask
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Pudule
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Grinberga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001454:Baltic States; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004044:Dietary Proteins