Changes in thiamin intake and blood levels in young, overweight/obese women following hypocaloric diets based on the increased relative consumption of cereals or vegetables

Abstract

Objective: To analyse the changes in thiamin intake and blood levels of young, overweight/obese women following slightly hypocaloric diets based on the increased relative consumption of foods whose intakes were most removed from the ideal: cereals and vegetables.

Design: The women were randomly assigned to one of two slightly hypocaloric diets: diet V, in which the consumption of vegetables was increased, or diet C, in which the consumption of cereals (especially breakfast cereals) was increased.

Subjects: The study subjects were 67 young women with a body mass index of 24-35 kg/m2.

Interventions: Dietetic, anthropometrics and biochemical data were collected at the start of the study and again at 2 and 6 weeks.

Results: The reduction in energy intake was similar in both groups. However, diet C subjects lost significantly more weight. Blood thiamin concentration was higher in group C women than in group V women at 2 and 6 weeks. Compared to initial values, group C subjects showed a higher blood thiamin level at 2 weeks. The highest blood thiamin levels seen in group C women may have been due to their greater thiamin intake, their higher thiamin dietetic density, and a higher thiamin/carbohydrates ratio at both week 2 and 6 of the intervention period.

Conclusions: Increasing the relative consumption of breakfast cereals within the context of a slightly hypocaloric diet can help in weight control and improve thiamine intake and blood levels.