Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Grand Forks, North Dakota » Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center » Dietary Prevention of Obesity-related Disease Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #311547
Research Project: Food Factors to Prevent Obesity and Related Diseases

Location: Dietary Prevention of Obesity-related Disease Research

Title: Seafood intake of US adults

Author
item Jahns, Lisa
item Raatz, Susan
item JOHNSON, LUANN - University Of North Dakota
item KRANZ, SIBYLLE - University Of Bristol
item Silverstein, Jeffrey
item Picklo, Matthew

Submitted to: Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2015
Publication Date: 3/28/2015
Citation: Jahns, L.A., Raatz, S.K., Johnson, L.K., Kranz, S., Silverstein, J., Picklo, M.J. 2015. Seafood intake of US adults [abstract]. Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 29:736.30.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Background: Current federal dietary guidance recommends regular consumption of seafood (fish + shellfish) for health; however, little is known about how well Americans meet guidelines, particularly population subgroups. Objectives: To describe prevalence of seafood consumption and, among consumers, amounts of any seafood, fish, and shellfish eaten by subgroups of Americans (sex, age group, income and education level, and race-ethnicity). Seafood intake was also compared to federal guidance. Methods: Data from the WWEIA, NHANES survey years 2005-2010 were analyzed using logistic regression to test whether consumers (%) varied within subgroups. Usual intake methodology estimated amounts consumed and differences within subgroups were tested using Z-tests. Results: Of US adults 19+, 84% reported consuming seafood over the past 30 days, 74% reported fish, and 54% reported shellfish. Younger age and lower income and education levels were associated with lower odds of being a seafood consumer (P < 0.0001). In seafood consumers, the average amount eaten was 22.6 ± 0.8 g/d. Women and individuals of lower age and education levels consumed less. Similar patterns were seen when subgroups were stratified by sex. 78% - 92% of adults did not meet federal recommendations when estimated by energy requirements. Conclusions: Americans have sub optimal levels of seafood intake; interventions to increase frequency and amount of seafood consumption, especially in the lowest-consuming subgroups, are critically needed. This study was funded by USDA-ARS 5450-51000-048-00D and USDA-NIFA AFRI 2014-67017-21758.