Macronutrient intake of black and white adolescent girls over 10 years: the NHLBI Growth and Health Study

Abstract

Objective: To compare age-related changes in macronutrient and cholesterol intake between black and white girls, compare intakes with National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) recommendations, and examine sociodemographic associations with macronutrient intake.

Design: Cohort study with 3-day food records collected over 10 years.

Subjects: 2,379 girls, 1,166 white and 1,213 black, age 9 to 10 years at baseline, recruited from three geographic locations. Statistical Analysis Longitudinal generalized estimating equation (GEE) regression models examined the relationships of age, ethnicity, and sociodemographic factors with macronutrient and cholesterol intake and with percentage of girls meeting NCEP recommendations.

Results: Total and saturated fat intakes decreased with age, more in white girls than black girls, from 35.1% and 13.6% kcal at age 9 to 29.3% and 10.4% at age 19 for white girls and from 36.5% and 13.4% kcal at age 9 to 35.1% and 11.7% kcal at age 19 for black girls. Dietary cholesterol decreased with age, but decreased more in white girls than black girls (range 95 to 119 mg/1,000 kcal for white girls and 119 to 132 mg/1,000 kcal for black girls). Depending on age, 7% to 51% of white girls and 8% to 26% of black girls met NCEP recommendations for total fat (<or=30% kcal) and saturated fat (<10% kcal). About 85% of white and 75% of black girls met NCEP recommendation for dietary cholesterol (<300 mg/day). Lower parental education was associated with increased fat and cholesterol and decreased carbohydrate intake.

Applications: Nutrition counseling and health promotion endeavors should make efforts to promote nutritional heart-healthy messages to adolescents, particularly black girls.