title: Nutrient intake of European adolescents: results of the HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An adequate nutritional intake in childhood and adolescence is crucial for growth and the prevention of youth and adult obesity and nutrition-related morbidities. Improving nutrient intake in children and adolescents is of public health importance. The purpose of the present study was to describe and evaluate the nutrient intake in a European sample using the D-A-CH nutrient intake recommendations and the Nutritional Quality Index (NQI).
  
  
  METHODS
  The HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) Study is a cross-sectional study, the main objective of which is to obtain comparable data on a variety of nutritional and health-related parameters in adolescents aged 12·5-17·5 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight cities in Europe.
  
  
  METHODS
  The initial sample consisted of 3528 European adolescents. Among these, 1590 adolescents (54% female) had sufficient and plausible dietary data on energy and nutrient intakes from two 24 h recalls using the HELENA-DIAT software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intakes of most macronutrients, vitamins and minerals were in line with the D-A-CH recommendations. While the intakes of SFA and salt were too high, the intake of PUFA was too low. Furthermore, the intakes of vitamin D, folate, iodine and F were less than about 55% of the recommendations. The median NQI was about 71 (of a maximum of 100).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intakes of most nutrients were adequate. However, further studies using suitable criteria to assess nutrient status are needed. Public health initiatives should educate children and adolescents regarding balanced food choices.
authors.affiliation: 1 Research Institute of Child Nutrition, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University Bonn, Heinstueck 11, 44225 Dortmund, Germany.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Diethelm
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Huybrechts
authors.affiliation: 3 Escuela Universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Stefaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Henauw
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Yannis
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Manios
authors.affiliation: 6 Centre d'Investigation Clinique de Lille, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beghin
authors.affiliation: 8 ImFINE Research Group, Department of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences - INEF, Technical University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González-Gross
authors.affiliation: 9 National Research Institute on Food and Nutrition, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Le Donne
authors.affiliation: 10 Department of Medical Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cuenca-García
authors.affiliation: 10 Department of Medical Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.affiliation: 11 Academic Institute for Clinical Nutrition, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Widhalm
authors.affiliation: 12 Unit for Preventive Nutrition, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.affiliation: 1 Research Institute of Child Nutrition, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University Bonn, Heinstueck 11, 44225 Dortmund, Germany.
authors.forename: Mathilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kersting
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D000886:Anthropometry; D002648:Child; D053198:Child Nutrition Sciences; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015930:Diet Records; D002149:Energy Intake; D005060:Europe; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009753:Nutritive Value; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires