DIETARY HABITS OF THE WARSAW POPULATION OBSERVED OVER 10 YEARS WITHINTHE FRAMEWORK OF THE POL-MONICA PROJECT - RELATION TO NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES

Background and Aim: To characterize ten-year dietary changes in the Wa rsaw Pol-MONICA population with regard to risk of cardiovascular disea se. Methods and Results: Three population samples aged 35-64 years, bo th sexes, were surveyed in 1984 (2571 participants), in 1988 (1397) an d in 1993 (1485). A twenty-four-hour dietary recall method was used to assess mean daily nutrient and food intake. Time-trends were calculat ed by the linear regression method. Over a ten-year period of observat ion dietary cholesterol decreased from 630 mg to 433 mg in men and fro m 447 mg to 284 mg in women, the percentage of energy from saturated f atty acids decreased from 15.7% to 14.7% in men and from 15.9% to 13.9 % in women, the percentage of energy from polyunsaturated fatty acids increased from 4.1% to 5.4% and from 4.3% to 5.5% respectively. These changes resulted in a significant reduction in atherogenicity of the a verage diet as expressed by Keys score. Intakes of antioxidant vitamin s A, E and C were consistently below Recommended Dietary Allowances (R DA) for the Polish population. However an increased intake of vitamin E in both genders and vitamin C in women was observed. Participants of both genders consumed significantly smaller quantities of cereals, bu tter eggs and other animal fats, but more fats of vegetable origin. Co nclusions: During the analyzed period, changes in nutrient intake were substantial and indicated a change in direction towards the recommend ed preventive diet. (C) 1997, Medikal Press.