Secular trends in dietary macronutrient intake in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, 1980-1992

Trends in dietary macronutrient intake were evaluated in population-based s urveys conducted in adults aged 25-74 years in 1980-1982, 1985-1987, and 19 90-1992 in the seven-county Minneapolis-St, Paul metropolitan area. A 24-ho ur dietary recall (n = 6,499) was completed by a random 50% sample. The aut hors obtained energy intake for each macronutrient (protein, carbohydrate, fat, saturated fat, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, and alcohol). Tine trends for percentage of total energy were analyzed using a generaliz ed linear mixed model. While energy intake remained stable over time, macro nutrient composition changed substantially. In 1980-1982, the caloric distr ibution for men comprised 15.8% protein, 39.4% fat, 40.9% carbohydrate, and 3.9% alcohol; similar findings were observed in women (15.7% protein, 38.9 % fat, 43% carbohydrate, and 2.4% alcohol). From 1980 to 1992, total fat in take decreased 4.7% in men and 4.9% in women (p < 0.001). The decline was g reatest for monounsaturated fat, although saturated and polyunsaturated fat intake also fell. During this same period, carbohydrate intake increased 5 .7% and 5.8% in men and women, respectively (p < 0.001). Alcohol intake dec reased in men and women (p < 0.01), while protein intake remained stable. I n summary, the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area diet shifted substant ially during the 1980s toward more carbohydrate and lower fat and alcohol i ntake.