title: An analysis of the meal pattern at the nutrient level in Polish women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Before the 1990's, access to a variety of foods in Eastern Europe was limited, which could have influenced the currently analyzed dietary behaviors pertaining to overweight and obesity development. The aim of this study was to describe the daily profile of meal patterns in Polish women aged 50-70 at the nutrient level.
  
  
  METHODS
  The anthropometrical parameters of four-hundred and fifty Polish women aged 50-70 were assessed. Three 24-hour dietary recalls and validated questionnaires regarding socio-demographic-economic status and meal frequency were applied. Timing in food intake was considered as follow: 6:00-8:59 CET - breakfast, 9:00-11:59 CET - morning snacks, 12:00-14:59 CET - lunch, 15:00-17:59 CET - afternoon snacks, 18:00-21:00 CET - dinner. Statistical analyses were conducted using Tukey's multiple comparison tests and discriminant analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant differences were found in socio-demographic-economic and anthropometrical characteristics between women categorized to differentiated meal frequency intakes. However, the subjects from the 5-meal-per-day group were characterized by higher anthropometrical parameters, the statistically lowest percentage of regularity in meal consumption and skipping meals related to shortest breaks between meals. At the nutrient level, potassium, niacin, vitamin E and vitamin D were selected in the discriminant analysis as the nutrients most strongly related to different dietary behaviors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings did not provide sufficient evidence that diverse nutrient intake could lead to the development of a specific nutritional profile in Polish women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Germany.|Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stelmach-Mardas
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition and Hygiene, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mardas
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Warchoł
authors.affiliation: Department of Education and Obesity Treatment and Metabolic Disorders, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bogdański
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D004032:Diet; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D062407:Meals; D011939:Mental Recall; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009525:Niacin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011044:Poland; D011188:Potassium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients; D014807:Vitamin D; D014810:Vitamin E; D009525:Niacin; D011188:Potassium
keywords: food intake; meal patterns; obesity