Consumption of ready-to-eat cereals in relation to health and diet indicators among school adolescents in Crete, Greece.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed at examining the intake of ready-to-eat cereals (RTEC) among adolescents in Crete, Greece, and investigate relationships with health and diet indicators.


METHODS
A sample of 392 adolescents (183 boys, 209 girls) aged 15 +/- 0.4 years, attending high schools of two major counties in Crete, was studied to determine consumption of RTEC using a frequency questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were performed and blood was drawn for analysis of serum lipoproteins and blood glucose (BG). The physical fitness was assessed with the 20-meter shuttle run test (SRT) and the amount of time watching television was estimated. Nutrient intakes were calculated through 24-hour dietary recalls.


RESULTS
42% (n = 77) of boys and 43% (n = 90) of girls reported consumption of RTEC at least once per week. Approximately 40% of the male and 47% of the female consumers reported eating RTEC only at meals other than breakfast. RTEC consumption was inversely related to the obesity indices and BG levels, and positively related to the SRT (p < 0.05 in all analyses). RTEC consumers had significantly higher intakes of fibre, magnesium, calcium, iron, folate, and vitamins A, B2 and B6 (p < 0.05 in all analyses).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrated favourable associations between RTEC intake and health and diet indicators in Greek adolescents, with potential implications for improved health status and chronic disease risk reduction.
Kafatos
Anthony
A
Preventive Medicine and Nutrition Clinic, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece. kafatos@med.uoc.gr
Linardakis
Manolis
M
Bertsias
George
G
Mammas
Ioannis
I
Fletcher
Reg
R
Bervanaki
Frosso
F
D000293:Adolescent; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002523:Edible Grain; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006293:Health Promotion; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D001786:Blood Glucose; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D008074:Lipoproteins