Vitamin status of the Spanish population
Varela, G.; Moreiras-Varela, O.; Requejo, A.
Acta Vitaminologica et Enzymologica 4(1-2): 123-133
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-8924 PMID: 7124562 Document Number: 189014
The recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for Spain (Inst. Nutricion C.S.I.C. (1980), Ingestas recomendadas de energia y nutrientes para la poblacion espanola. Facultad de Farmacia, Univ. Complutense, Madrid) are reproduced in summary in a table. Nutrient intakes were calculated from food consumption data of 1973 and of the economic crisis years of 1975 and 1979. In those years the mean daily intake of energy was 3151, 3413 and 3221 kcal of which 12.0, 11.7 and 12.3% was from protein, 30.6, 33.4 and 35.9% from fat and 55.3, 52.3 and 50.5% from carbohydrate. The RDA for the population according to the census, and RDA(2) for the population, adjusted to the mean energy consumption of 3221 kcal for 1979 and allowing for age, sex and activity, are presented. Mean intakes for 1979 exceeded the RDA(2) for thiamin, niacin, folic acid and vitamins B-12, C and A; they met the RDA(2) for riboflavin and vitamin D but so closely that it was possible that some sectors of the population got less than their RDA. In a study of 1965-66 the rural population had inadequate mean intakes of vitamin A and riboflavin, and by extrapolation it seemed that those intakes were still inadequate on average and that they may be even more deficient for some of the rural population in particular areas of the country. Another table presents the nutrient density of 5 vitamins per 1000 kcal of the 1979 diet and their desirable, acceptable and mimimum nutrient densities. Bar charts compare the vitamin intakes with those of other countries; Spain had the highest intake of vitamin C and one of the lowest of riboflavin. Tables show for 1973, 1975 and 1979 the percentage of the vitamin C intake from citrus, other fruit and tomatoes, and the intake of each of 8 vitamins from food additives or pharmaceuticals. It was concluded that for the population of Spain as a whole the vitamin intake was satisfactory but that some sectors had inadequate vitamin A and riboflavin, and that as a short-term measure it was advisable to enrich suitable foods with those vitamins. Attention should be paid to the risk of decreasing nutrient intake when taking a low-energy slimming diet.