Patterns of food and nutrient intakes in Italy and their application to the development of food-based dietary guidelines.

Patterns of food and nutrient intakes in Italy were estimated starting from a nationwide food survey carried out by the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) in 1994-6, called INN-CA 1995. The present analysis looks at food and nutrient intakes of the subsample of the adults (18-60-year-old individuals). In particular, the two extreme quartiles of the distribution of total fat intake expressed as percentage of energy were considered in the analysis. The results showed that the subjects included in the fourth quartile (high-fat consumers) consumed fewer vegetables than the subjects in the first quartile (low-fat consumers). Furthermore, high-fat consumers had a tendency to have an unbalanced diet, whereas the low-fat consumers present a better pattern. In synthesis, 50% of the adults reach the goal of at least 400 g of vegetables and fruit daily, and 25% consume less than 30% of energy from total fats. Convincing that part of the population whose diet does not comply with dietary goals to come back to the Mediterranean tradition might be a priority for nutrition education in Italy.