Trends in dietary intake in Switzerland, 1999 to 2009

Abstract

Objective: To assess nutrition trends of the Geneva population for the period 1999-2009.

Design: Bus Santé Geneva study, which conducts annual health surveys in random samples of the Geneva population. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated FFQ and trends were assessed by linear regression.

Setting: Population-based survey.

Subjects: Data from 9283 participants (50% women, mean age 51·5 (sd 10·8) years) were analysed.

Results: In both genders total energy intake decreased from 1999 to 2009, by 2·9% in men and by 6·3% in women (both trends P < 0·005). Vegetable protein and total carbohydrate intakes, expressed as a percentage of total energy intake, increased in women. MUFA intake increased while SFA, PUFA and alcohol intakes decreased in both genders. Intakes of Ca, Fe and carotene decreased in both genders. No changes in fibre, vitamin D and vitamin A intakes were found. Similar findings were obtained after excluding participants with extreme dietary intakes, except that the decreases in SFA, vegetable protein and carbohydrate were no longer significant in women.

Conclusions: Between 1999 and 2009, a small decrease in total energy intake was noted in the Geneva population. Although the decrease in alcohol and SFA intakes is of interest, the decrease in Ca and Fe intakes may have adverse health effects in the future.