Nutritional characteristics of a rural Southern Italy population: the Ventimiglia di Sicilia Project.
OBJECTIVE
Knowledge of alimentary habits among populations permits a better definition of appropriate public health interventions. We designed the epidemiological project "Ventimiglia di Sicilia" to characterize the risk profile in a rural village with low total cholesterol levels and low early cardiovascular mortality but with a large prevalence of overweight and obesity, which previously have been significantly associated with total mortality.


METHODS
488 individuals of age 20 to 69 years were included in the dietary survey conducted by a seven-day food record.


RESULTS
Alimentary habits were characterized by high consumption of total and complex carbohydrates (respectively 52.5 +/- 7.6% and 46.6 +/- 8.2% of daily energy) and by a low cholesterol intake (92.5 +/- 35.0 mg/1000 kcal/day). Fat intake was 34.7 +/- 7.7% of daily energy due to a higher consumption of monounsaturated fats in respect to saturated fats (respectively 20.5 +/- 5.1% and 10.2 +/- 2.9% of daily energy). In particular, in this population there was a large consumption of bread, pasta, fresh vegetables, olive oil and fruits. We also observed an excess of total calories (about 2900 kcal/day in men and 2100 kcal/day in women) not balanced by a high degree of physical activity levels. Furthermore we found a significant higher total and saturated fat consumption in the youngest individuals and in people with higher educational levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Dietary habits of Ventimiglia di Sicilia still follow the nutritional characteristics typical of the Mediterranean diet. The high total calorie intake indicates a quantitative more than qualitative problem, which may account the large prevalence of overweight and obesity and may represent a public health issue that needs to be corrected in such a rural population.
Barbagallo
Carlo M
CM
Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, University of Palermo, Italy. carlob@unipa.it
Cavera
Giovanni
G
Sapienza
Michelangelo
M
Noto
Davide
D
Cefalù
Angelo B
AB
Polizzi
Francesco
F
Onorato
Francesco
F
Rini
GiovanBattista
G
Di Fede
Gaetana
G
Pagano
Michele
M
Montalto
Giuseppe
G
Rizzo
Manfredi
M
Descovich
GianCarlo
G
Notarbartolo
Alberto
A
Averna
Maurizio R
MR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015930:Diet Records; D004034:Diet Surveys; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012423:Rural Health; D012424:Rural Population
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D002784:Cholesterol