Are energy dense diets also nutrient dense?
OBJECTIVE
Some beverages are nutrient dense, but they are often excluded from nutrient density calculations. The purpose of this study was to assess whether the energy-nutrient association changed when beverages were included in these calculations.


METHODS
Applying a cross-sectional design, a 24-hour dietary recall was collected on each participant. Subjects/


METHODS
440 young adults (ages 19-28 years) in Bogalusa, Louisiana participated in this study.


METHODS
Mean nutrient intakes and food group consumption were examined across the energy density (ED) tertiles using two calculation methods: one with food and all beverages (excluding water) (ED1) and one including food and only energy containing beverages (ED2). Regression models were used and multiple comparisons were performed using the Tukey-Kramer procedure. A p-value < 0.05 was considered to be significant.


RESULTS
With increasing ED, there was a significant increase in the consumption of total meats (ED1 p < 0.05; ED2 p < 0.01). In contrast, there was a significant decrease in consumption of fruits/juices (ED1 p < 0.01; ED2 p < 0.0001), vegetables (ED1 p < 0.01; ED2 p < 0.05), beverages (both p < 0.0001) and total sweets with increasing ED (both p < 0.0001). There was a significantly higher mean intake of total protein (grams) (ED2 p < 0.0001), amino acids (ED1 histidine/leucine p < 0.05; ED2 p < 0.0001), and total fat (grams) (ED1 p < 0.0001; ED2 p < 0.0001) with higher ED compared to lower ED. The percent energy from protein (ED1 p < 0.05; ED2 p < 0.0001), total fat (both p < 0.001) and saturated fatty acids (both p < 0.0001) significantly increased and the percent energy from carbohydrate (both p < 0.0001) and sucrose (both p < 0.0001) significantly decreased with increasing ED.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that ED may influence the ND of the diet depending on whether energy containing beverages are included or excluded in the analysis.
Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030-2600, USA. tnicklas@bcm.tmc.edu
Theresa A
TA
Nicklas
Carol E
CE
O'Neil
Jason
J
Mendoza
Yan
Y
Liu
Issa F
IF
Zakeri
Gerald S
GS
Berenson
D000328:Adult; D001628:Beverages; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D004034:Diet Surveys; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009753:Nutritive Value; D055815:Young Adult