title: Dietary intake of macro- and micronutrients in Slovenian adolescents: comparison with reference values.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Data on a nationally representative dietary intake in Central Europe is lacking. We investigated the diet of adolescents in Slovenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dietary habits were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (n = 2,661), and present nutrition was assessed using a 3-day weighted dietary protocol (n = 197) for validation purposes. Dietary intake was calculated and compared with Central European [German (D), Austrian (A), and Swiss (CH); D-A-CH] recommendations and World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization (WHO/FAO) recommendations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adolescents consumed exceeding reference intake values of free sugars (boys 16% of energy, girls 17%), saturated fatty acids (SFA; 13% of energy), and sodium (boys 203%, girls 210% of the WHO/FAO upper limit), but below-reference intake values of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; boys 5% of energy; girls 6%), water (boys 1,786 ml/day, girls 2,016 ml/day), and fiber density (only girls 2.8 g/MJ, p < 0.001). Among micronutrients, below-reference intakes (% of D-A-CH: boys and girls, respectively, p < 0.05) were reported for folate (64 and 69%), fluoride (28 and 31%), and calcium (91 and 97%), as well as for vitamin D (20 and 20%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The dietary habits of Slovenian adolescents are less than optimal. They are characterized by exceeding reference intake values of free sugars, salt, and SFA, and a below-reference intake of PUFA, water, and several micronutrients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Nataša
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fidler Mis
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kobe
authors.forename: Matevž
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stimec
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001317:Austria; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012016:Reference Values; D017524:Slovenia; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D002241:Carbohydrates; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D018977:Micronutrients; D012982:Sodium, Dietary; D014807:Vitamin D; D005492:Folic Acid; D005459:Fluorides