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Title: Food sources of shortfall nutrients among US adolescents National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014

Author
item LEME, ANA - University Of São Paulo
item BARANOWSKI, TOM - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item Thompson, Deborah - Debbe
item PHILIPPI, SONIA - University Of São Paulo
item O'NEIL, CAROL - Louisiana State University
item FULGONI III, VICTOR - Nutrition Impact, Llc
item NICKLAS, THERESA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Family and Community Health
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/5/2019
Publication Date: 1/3/2020
Citation: Leme, A.C., Baranowski, T., Thompson, D.J., Philippi, S., O'Neil, C.E., Fulgoni III, V.L., Nicklas, T.A. 2020. Food sources of shortfall nutrients among US adolescents National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014. Family and Community Health. 43(1):59-73. https://doi.org/10.1097/FCH.0000000000000243.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/FCH.0000000000000243

Interpretive Summary: Despite the Dietary Guidelines for Americans/MyPlate recommendations, adolescents have greater nutrient needs (e.g., vitamins A, D, and C, folate, potassium, calcium, and magnesium) compared to other age groups. Adolescents often report excessive consumption of savory snacks, processed meats, sugar sweetened beverages, cookies, and sweets, and inadequate intakes as compared to recommended levels of fruit, vegetables, milk, dairy products, and whole grains. This may result in shortfall of nutrients, including vitamins A, D, E, and C, folate, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and fiber. For adolescent females, iron is also a shortfall nutrient. The aim of this study was to identify food sources of shortfall nutrients consumed by adolescents (n=3,156) using data from NHANES (2011-2014). Some of the food subgroups commonly consumed by adolescents made a significant contribution to shortfall nutrient intakes in the diet (i.e., vitamins A, C, D, and E, folate, calcium, magnesium, fiber, potassium and iron). Awareness of nutrient intakes and food sources is essential to establish dietary guidance in a practical context. Efforts to continue monitoring the food sources of nutrients consumed by adolescents will be important to improve the current knowledge on this topic of research.

Technical Abstract: To identify food sources of shortfall nutrients consumed by adolescents (n=3,156), data from NHANES (2011-2014) were used. Some of the food groups commonly consumed by adolescents made a significant contribution to shortfall nutrient intakes in the diet. Many food sources that provided significant amounts of shortfall nutrients were from foods that also provided nutrients to limit. Awareness of nutrient intakes and food sources is essential to establish dietary guidance in a practical context. Efforts to continue monitoring the food sources of nutrients consumed by adolescents will be important to improve the current knowledge on this topic of research.