Low adherence of a clinically healthy Italian population to nutritional recommendations for primary prevention of chronic diseases.
OBJECTIVE
Several data demonstrated that dietary habits significantly affect the health state of the population. During recent years all the major scientific associations have provided nutritional recommendations for primary prevention of chronic diseases but few data are available about prevalence of adherence to these recommendations in an otherwise healthy population. The aims of this study were to evaluate dietary habits, and to assess the adherence of the general population to the recommendations for correct nutritional behaviour.


RESULTS
Dietary habits, anthropometric and biochemical parameters were evaluated in a population of 932 (367 M; 565 F) clinically healthy subjects living in Florence, enrolled in an epidemiologic study conducted between 2002 and 2004. By comparing the dietary pattern with the nutritional guidelines, the study population reported a hyperproteic and hyperlipidic nutritional pattern, with a considerably low contribution from polyunsaturated fats (PUFA). A low fibre intake is shown in both genders. In addition, food consumption pattern showed an increased consumption of some foods such as meat, both fresh and processed, and a low intake of some "healthy" foods like fruit and vegetables.


CONCLUSIONS
We found several nutritional flaws in the dietary habits of a clinically healthy Italian population. In particular, we reported a high intake of animal protein and total fats with a very low contribution from PUFA.
Sofi
Francesco
F
Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, Thrombosis Centre, University of Florence, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy. francescosofi@gmail.com
Innocenti
Giulia
G
Dini
Carla
C
Masi
Laura
L
Battistini
Nino Carlo
NC
Brandi
Maria Luisa
ML
Rotella
Carlo Maria
CM
Gensini
Gian Franco
GF
Abbate
Rosanna
R
Surrenti
Calogero
C
Casini
Alessandro
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015444:Exercise; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011322:Primary Prevention
D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated