title: Seasonality of food groups and total energy intake: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the effect of season on food intake from selected food groups and on energy intake in adults.
  
  
  
  The search process was based on selecting publications listed in the following: Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase and Agris. Food frequency questionnaires, 24-h dietary recalls and food records as methods for assessment of dietary intake were used to assess changes in the consumption of 11 food groups and of energy intake across seasons. A meta-analysis was performed.
  
  
  
  Twenty-six studies were included. Articles were divided into those reporting data on four seasons (winter, spring, summer and autumn) or on two seasons (pre-and post-harvest). Four of the studies could be utilized for meta-analysis describing changes in food consumption across four season scheme: from winter to spring fruits decreased, whereas vegetables, eggs and alcoholic beverages increased; from spring to summer vegetable consumption further increased and cereals decreased; from summer to autumn fruits and cereals increased and vegetables, meat, eggs and alcoholic beverages decreased; from autumn to winter cereals decreased. A significant association was also found between energy intake and season, for 13 studies reporting energy intake across four seasons (favors winter) and for eight studies across pre- and post-harvest seasons (favors post-harvest).
  
  
  
  The winter or the post-harvest season is associated with increased energy intake. The intake of fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat, cereals and alcoholic beverages is following a seasonal consumption pattern and at least for these foods season is determinant of intake.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Nuthetal, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stelmach-Mardas
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Zentrum München, München, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kleiser
authors.affiliation: Fundacion Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Uzhova
authors.affiliation: Fundacion Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Peñalvo
authors.affiliation: Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: La Torre
authors.affiliation: Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Palys
authors.affiliation: Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lojko
authors.affiliation: Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nimptsch
authors.affiliation: Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suwalska
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Zentrum München, München, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Linseisen
authors.affiliation: Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saulle
authors.affiliation: Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Colamesta
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Nuthetal, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boeing
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D002523:Edible Grain; D004531:Eggs; D002149:Energy Intake; D005502:Food; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D016239:MEDLINE; D012621:Seasons; D014675:Vegetables