Biomedical subjects

S De Henauw

Publications and source records attributed to S De Henauw.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Sources of saturated fatty acids in Belgian adolescents' diet: implications for the development of food-based dietary guidelines.

The objectives of the present study are to describe the dietary sources of total fat and of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and to formulate food-based dietary guidelines for SFA in Belgian adolescents. A random sample of 13-18-year-old adolescents was drawn from secondary schools in the region of Ghent. A 7 d estimated food record method was used to quantify nutrient and food intake. The average daily SFA intake is 4 % above the recommended 10 % of the total energy contribution. The most important contributors of SFA on food group level were 'fats, oils and savoury sauces', 'meat and meat products', 'sugar, confectionery, sweet fillings and sauces', 'cheese', 'milk and milk products' and 'bread, rusk and breakfast rolls'. On food subgroup level 'fresh meat', 'high-fat margarine' and 'high-fat cheese' had the highest contribution to SFA intake in all adolescents. Adolescents with a low SFA intake (lowest tertile) were compared with adolescents with a high intake (highest tertile). In the lowest tertile the intake of total fat and MUFA was significantly lower than in the highest tertile, while the intake of total carbohydrates, mono- and disaccharides and complex carbohydrates was significantly higher. Overall, the high-fat cheese intake is significantly lower in the lowest tertile, while the fruit intake is higher. The present analysis shows that the nutritional profile of Belgian adolescents could be potentially improved by decreasing the portion sizes of fresh meat (in boys), high-fat margarine, high-fat cheese and reducing intake of commercially prepared baked goods and processed foods, including fast foods.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Risk assessment of dietary acrylamide intake in Flemish adolescents.

Acrylamide has recently been found in a range of heat treated food items. As it is a neurotoxic agent and a probable, human carcinogen (IARC 2A), human exposure to this chemical might constitute an important public health issue. The purpose of the study was to estimate the acrylamide intake in Flemish adolescents (based on 7-day food record) and to evaluate the possible health risks due to the exposure. The Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain collected 150 food items from different supermarkets and restaurants to analyse the acrylamide level. The limit of quantitation was 30 microg acrylamide/kg foodstuffs. Exposure modelling was based on Monte Carlo simulations. The estimated dietary intake of acrylamide per person given as the 5th, 50th and 95th percentile were 0.19, 0.51 and 1.09 mircog/kg bw/d. Bread, despite its low acrylamide content, is relevant as a source of acrylamide exposure at the lower percentiles. At higher percentiles the contribution of French fries and crisps is more important. It must be emphasised that the exposure assessment has several limitations. Risk of neurotoxicity seems negligible. The relevance of current intake levels in terms of cancer risk remains a subject of debate.

Acrylamide↗

PubMed2005

Iron intake and dietary sources of iron in Flemish adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the dietary iron intake and food sources of iron in Flemish adolescents. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey; dietary assessment method: a 7-day estimated food record. SETTING: Private and public secondary schools in Ghent, a city in the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. SUBJECTS: A total of 341 adolescents (129 boys and 212 girls), 13-18 y, randomly selected by a multistage clustered sampling technique. RESULTS: The mean total iron intake (s.d.) for boys was 13.4 (+/- 2.91) mg/day and for girls 10.1 (+/- 2.79) mg/day. A proportion of 38.8% of the boys and 99.5% of the girls had a mean total iron intake below the Belgian Recommended Dietary Allowance and 3.1% of the boys and 71.2% of the girls below the British Estimated Average Requirement. When bioavailable iron intake is considered, 84.5% of the boys and only 16.5% of the girls met the age-specific requirement. The food groups with the highest mean proportional contribution to total iron intake in both males and females were bread, meat and meat products, cereals and potatoes. A comparison of adolescents from the highest tertile of iron intake (mg/day) with adolescents from the lowest tertile showed a significantly higher energy-adjusted intake of brown bread and a significantly lower intake of soft drinks in the former group in both boys and girls. A significantly higher energy-adjusted intake of breakfast cereals in adolescents of the highest tertile than those of the lowest tertile was seen in girls only. Analyses in consumers only did not change this overall picture. CONCLUSIONS: One can conclude that the mean iron intake of Flemish girls is considerably lower than the current recommendations. An increased iron intake in this subgroup of the population is therefore advisable.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Validity and reproducibility of a computerised tool for assessing the iron, calcium and vitamin C intake of Belgian women.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relative validity of a newly developed iron intake assessment tool, designed specifically to assess iron, calcium and vitamin C intake. DESIGN: Estimates of iron, calcium and vitamin C intake from a computerised iron intake assessment tool compared with those from 11-day estimated dietary records. SETTING: Region of Ghent (N= +/- 225,000), a city in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. SUBJECTS: In all, 50 women aged 18-39 y, participating in a large-scale epidemiological study on iron intake and iron status. MAIN RESULTS: Mean dietary iron intake from the 11-day food record, the unadjusted dietary iron intake assessment tool and the adjusted tool was, respectively, 10.5 +/- 2.7, 10.4 +/- 4.3 and 9.6 +/- 2.9 mg. For the different nutrients, the correlation coefficients vary from 0.45 to 0.60 for adjusted intake. The mean difference of iron intake by the two methods (0.8 +/- 2.9 mg) did not differ significantly from zero. The new method correctly classified 38% (iron), 38% (calcium) and 58% (vitamin C) of the subjects to the correct tertile. The correlation coefficients ranged from 0.48 for adjusted vitamin C intake to 0.73 for adjusted calcium intake between two administrations. CONCLUSION: The newly developed instrument can be used to assess mean group intakes of iron, calcium and vitamin C in women consuming a Western diet. However, since the ranking capability of the new tool is rather weak, further refinement of the tool is required to produce a robust method for assessing iron, calcium and vitamin C intakes of individuals. SPONSORSHIP: This research was supported by the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research/Flemish Division (Fund No G.0152.01).

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Estimated energy intake, macronutrient intake and meal pattern of Flemish adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the energy and macronutrient intake and the meal patterns of Flemish adolescents, aged 13-18 y. METHODS: A 7 day estimated food record was administered to the whole sample. SETTING: Secondary schools in the city of Ghent, Belgium. SUBJECTS: A total of 341 adolescents (13-18 y) selected by a multistage clustered sampling (participation: 72.7%). MAIN RESULTS: A significant increase with age was observed in total energy intake in adolescent boys (P<0.01), but not in girls. The energy distribution over the macronutrients showed no significant difference between boys and girls. On average, 35.7% (s.d. 4.81%) of energy came from total fat and 15.4% (s.d. 2.46%) from saturated fatty acids; 49.0% (s.d. 5.28%) from total carbohydrates with 25.1% (s.d. 4.49%) from complex carbohydrates and 23.9% (s.d. 5.86%) from free sugars. The energy contribution of alcohol in the 16-18 y-old-group was significantly higher as compared with the 13-15 y-old-group, for both boys and girls. Snacks between meals accounted for almost 20% of the total energy intake. Lunch and dinner were characterized by high total fat content. CONCLUSION: These students consumed a diet high in total fat and in saturated fatty acids and also high in mono- and disaccharides. Observed mean intakes deviate considerably from the Belgian dietary guidelines. A low energy intake at breakfast was observed, while a higher proportion of energy was derived from snacks.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Improvement of comparability of dietary intake assessment using currently available individual food consumption surveys.

BACKGROUND: Food consumption data are used for monitoring dietary indicators of health. In this context, there is a need for comparable (individual) data at the European level. The preference is to perform a pan-European survey able to generate data collected on the same basis. Until this can be realized, the existing data have to be made as comparable as possible. OBJECTIVE: To identify solutions; to make existing food consumption data from nationally representative databases more comparable. METHODS: General guidelines for the comparison of food intake data using currently available data were discussed and agreed upon in the EFCOSUM project team. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Criteria were assessed with regard to the population involved, age of the survey, method of data collection, duration of the survey, the food classification system and the food composition tbl Based on these criteria, a maximum of 15 countries could provide food consumption data that can be made comparable at the individual level for the adult population. It is recommended to make data comparable at the food level, starting with vegetables (excluding potatoes), fruits (excluding fruit juices), fish (including shellfish) and bread. Comparability of foods is only possible at the 'raw edible' ingredient level. To achieve this, a large amount of work has to be undertaken. The approach of the EFG (Euro Food Groups) system is considered to be the best compromise between the different classification systems. Comparability at the nutrient level has to wait for the availability of a European Nutrient Database, like the one that is being developed within the EPIC context.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Estimating the distribution of usual dietary intake by short-term measurements.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the habitual dietary intake distribution in a population on the basis of repeated short-term measurements, especially of multiple 24 h diet recalls. METHODS: Six different statistical methods were evaluated and compared. The comparison referred to theoretical assumptions, admitted data transformations, statistical foundations, available software packages, and applications to real data of dietary intake. RESULTS: The Nusser method and a simplified version of it proposed in the paper have proved to be universally applicable methods for estimating the usual intake distribution for food groups and nutrients. Also, the Buck method seemed to be a robust estimation procedure suitable for the description of food consumption data, whereas the other considered methods were only applicable for log-normally distributed intake data or required a comprehensive data simulation. Characteristics of the estimated usual intake distribution were a decreased standard deviation, increased lower percentiles, and decreased upper percentiles compared to the observed sample distribution of individual means. Empirical results concerning total fat and vegetable intake in three different European consumption surveys showed that the estimated percentiles of the usual intake distribution did not depend markedly on the number of sampling days. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated short-term measurements like 24 h diet recalls can be used to describe the habitual dietary intake distribution in food consumption surveys. Recommended is a sampling design of two non-consecutive sampling days. The sampling days of all participants should be selected in such a way that they cover all seasons and days of the week.

Data Interpretation, Statistical↗

PubMed2002

Operationalization of food consumption surveys in Europe: recommendations from the European Food Consumption Survey Methods (EFCOSUM) Project.

BACKGROUND: The EFCOSUM (European Food Consumption Survey Methods) Project aims at harmonizing food consumption surveys in European countries within the perspective of an overall Public Health Monitoring Programme. Harmonization implies the need for a common framework of procedures and tools, that are applicable and feasible in all potentially interested countries. A major element in such a framework is the protocol for the operationalization of a food consumption survey, referring to all practical, logistical and material conditions that need to be fulfilled in order to guarantee a successful implementation of such a survey. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper was to review a number of aspects of operationalization of food consumption surveys in detail. On the basis of the currently available knowledge and experience in Europe, consensus recommendations have been elaborated for an operationalization protocol that would be feasible for all European countries. METHODS: The EFCOSUM recommendations with respect to operationalization of food consumption surveys in Europe are mainly based on three sources of information, which have been discussed at several ad hoc expert meetings: experience from previous collaborative epidemiological studies, literature searches and results of two questionnaires, distributed among representatives from 23 European countries-all experts affiliated with experienced organizations in the fields of nutrition research and related fields. RESULTS: Consensus recommendations have been set up for the following topics: sampling, recruitment, fieldwork, biomarkers, interviewer qualifications and training and quality control. These recommendations have to be considered the best achievable common denominator within Europe at this time. In a number of cases, recommendations are presented in a hierarchical way, with a gradation from first choice options towards acceptable alternatives. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that a high degree of standardization of fieldwork can be achieved within Europe. A number of specific problems and constraints will have to be solved in connection with the conduction of a real survey. These problems include, amongst others, country-specific decisions on, for example, target population, detailed sampling and recruiting procedures, interview setting and support. However, on the whole, these problems can be overcome and the main recommendations presented in this paper are considered feasible for every country in Europe. Application of the EFCOSUM operationalization protocol in European countries will contribute significantly to the quality and comparability of food consumption data across Europe. It is anticipated that the policy supporting and orienting potential of this type of databases-both at the national and at the EU supranational level-will be increased accordingly.

Data Collection↗

PubMed2002

A European food consumption survey method--conclusions and recommendations.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the general outcome and conclusions of a European project (EFCOSUM); to develop a method for a European food consumption survey that delivers internationally comparable data on a set of policy relevant nutritional indicators. DESIGN AND METHODS: The EFCOSUM project was carried out within the framework of the European Health Monitoring Programme by 14 Member States as well as nine other European countries. Activities of the project included plenary sessions, desk research and working group activities, building on existing experience from such projects as DAFNE, EPIC, FLAIR Eurofoods-Enfant project, COST Action 99 and others. All participating states took part in one or more working group activities, which were discussed, adapted and finally approved in plenary sessions. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: For a limited number of countries available food consumption data can be made comparable at the food intake level, but not at the nutrient level. To achieve comparability at the food intake level, a considerable amount of work still has to be done. A minimum list of dietary indicators considered to be the most relevant to be collected for the Health information exchange and monitoring system was identified. As the most suitable method to get internationally comparable new data on population means and distributions of actual intake the 24 h recall was selected, to be conducted at least twice. This also allows for the estimation of usual intake by a modelling technique that separates intra- and inter-individual intake. For a number of micronutrients the use of biomarkers is recommended. Aspects of food classification and food composition were discussed thoroughly, as well as statistical and data collection aspects. For the implementation of a pan-European survey the establishment of a European co-ordinating centre is recommended. The standardization of field work work procedures and other aspects of operationalization have been discussed in detail. It is concluded that there is broad European consensus on the most suitable method for a pan-European dietary survey for the purposes of the EU Health Monitoring Programme. It is further concluded that such a pan-European survey is feasible, if the funds are made available.

Data Collection↗

PubMed2002

Maternal and umbilical fatty acid status in relation to maternal diet.

The aim of this study was to describe the dietary fat intake during pregnancy and to study the relationship between the intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and the fatty acid composition of maternal and umbilical plasma phospholipids (PLs) and cholesterol esters (CEs) at delivery. In addition, the contribution of food groups to the intake of total fat and fatty acids in the diet was quantified.Maternal and umbilical blood samples were collected at delivery from 30 healthy pregnant women. The women completed a food frequency questionnaire during the first and third trimesters. The total fat intake during pregnancy is 85 (SD 24) g/day. The mean intake of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) is 33.4 g/day, of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) 28.6 g/day and of PUFA 15.2 g/day. Major sources of fat, MUFA and PUFA are fats, oils and sauces. Major sources of SFA are meat and poultry followed by cheese and eggs. Meat and poultry contribute the most to the intake of 20:4n-6 whereas fish is the major source of 20:5n-3 (EPA) and 22:6n-3 (docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) in the diet. Linoleic acid, EPA and DHA (w%) in PL of maternal plasma are positively related to the intake of these fatty acids during pregnancy. No association is found between the maternal intake of the two parent essential fatty acids (18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3) and their fraction in umbilical PL or CE. EPA and the sum of n-6 fatty acids (w%) in umbilical plasma PL are positively correlated with the dietary intake of these fatty acids.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Probabilistic intake assessment and body burden estimation of dioxin-like substances in background conditions and during a short food contamination episode.

The objective was to perform a dioxin body burden estimate based on a probabilistic intake assessment of PCDDs, PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs because of the so-called 1999 'Belgian dioxin incident'. Monte Carlo simulation techniques were used to combine detailed 7-day food intake data on the individual level from a sample of 14-18-year-old adolescents with 'background' and 'incident-related' food contamination data. In background conditions, 3% of the adolescents had an intake <1 pg TEQ kg(-1) bw day(-1), while 85% had <4 pg TEQ kg(-1) bw day(-1). Milk and other dairy products were the basic source of dioxin-like contaminants, while fish constituted the main source at the higher percentiles of intake. During the dioxin incident, the estimated median dioxin intake showed a moderate increase. At the 99th percentile, the highest intake level, and the 95% upper bound uncertainty level, peak body burden-23.73 ng TEQ kg(-1) bw-remained below body burdens that in the experimental animal or in man are accompanied by a population-based observable increase in the incidence of adverse effects. The 1999 Belgian dioxin incident most likely did not affect public health in Belgium in a measurable way, although exceptions remain possible on the individual level.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Gender, cohort and geographical differences in 10-year mortality in elderly people living in 12 European towns.

BACKGROUND: In 1988/89, 2586 randomly selected elderly of both sexes born between 1913 and 1918 and living in 19 centres of 12 European countries participated in the SENECA Study on Nutrition and the Elderly in Europe. Differences in nutritional and health status as well in lifestyle factors, namely dietary habits, between the elderly living in the several centres were observed. OBJECTIVE: To study gender, cohort and geographical differences in 10-year mortality in elderly people from the SENECA Study. DESIGN: Longitudinal study. Information on vital status of the elderly people who participated in the baseline study performed in 1988/89 was obtained by standardized procedures in 1999, until 30 April. RESULTS: In all centres, men had higher mortality rates than women. A cohort effect in mortality is observed, particularly in men. A geographical pattern in mortality also more evident in men is shown. In fact, elderly men living in Eastern Europe, represented by the Polish centre, had the highest average hazard rate, 108, while those living in Southern Europe, including the French, the Swiss, the Italian, the Spanish and the Portuguese centres, had the lowest average hazard rates, ranging from 52 in Betanzos/Spain to 67 in the two French towns. Finally, those living in Northern Europe, represented by the Danish, the Dutch and the Belgian centres had intermediate values, from 68 in Roskilde/ Denmark to 85 in Culemborg/the Netherlands. Kaplan-Meier survival curves confirmed the gender, cohort and geographical differences in survival (log-rank test P 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The gender and geographical differences in mortality observed in elderly people living in different regions of Europe put in evidence the potential for increasing the life expectancy in Europe through intervention programs tackling the lifestyle and socio-economic factors behind those differences.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2001

Estimation of dietary fat intake of Belgian pregnant women. Comparison of two methods.

AIM: To evaluate the validity and usefulness of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) which was designed to evaluate individual fat consumption for a Dutch population relative to 7-day estimated records (7d ER). The FFQ has been validated previously and was adapted to the Belgian situation. METHODS: Longitudinal study in 26 healthy pregnant women; FFQ and 7d ER were obtained during the 1st and 3rd trimesters. RESULTS: FFQ was validated with 7d ER. Fat and fatty acid intake estimated by the FFQ did not differ significantly (p < 0.01) from data obtained by the 7d ER except for 18:2n-6. Pearson correlation coefficient between the 2 methods ranged from 0.62 to 0.68. On average, 47% of the women were classified in the same quartile with the 2 methods and less than 2% in the opposite quartile. Total fat intake, calculated from FFQ, was on average 87.9 (SD 18.1) g/day. The mean intake of linoleic acid was 13.3 (SD 5.4) g/day and of alpha-linolenic acid was 1.4 (SD 0.5) g/day. The dietary intake of the saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids was respectively 34.7 (SD 10.0) g/day, 29.6 (SD 8.1) g/day and 15.7 (SD 5.9) g/day. CONCLUSION: The FFQ gives similar results for fat intake as the 7d ER and is thus considered an appropriate method for classifying individuals to the right part of the distribution of dietary fat intake.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

The influence of survey duration on estimates of food intakes and its relevance for public health nutrition and food safety issues.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the influence of food consumption survey duration on estimates of percentage consumers, mean total population intakes and intakes among consumers only and to consider its relevance for public health nutrition and food safety issues. DESIGN: Prospective food consumption survey. SETTING: A multicentre study in five centres in the European Union-Dublin, Ghent, Helsinki, Potsdam and Rome. SUBJECTS: Teenage subjects were recruited through schools; 948 (80%) out of 1180 subjects completed the survey. INTERVENTIONS: 14-day food diaries were used to collect the food consumption data. RESULTS: For mean total population intakes, 53% of the foods had slopes significantly different to 0 (P<0.05). In practical terms (g/day), these differences were small, with 41% of foods having differences of </=1 g/day and a further 35% having differences of 1-5 g/day. Estimates of percentage consumers based on 3 days and 14 days were 1.9 and 3.6 times the 1-day estimate, respectively. For 72% of foods, at least 50% of non-consumers on day 1 became consumers over the subsequent 13 days. Estimates of mean consumer only intakes based on 3 days and 14 days were 53% and 32% of the 1 day value. CONCLUSION: In practical terms, survey duration influences estimates of percentage consumers and intakes among consumers only but not mean total population intakes. Awareness of this influence is important for improved interpretation of dietary data for epidemiological studies, development of food-based dietary guidelines and food chemical intakes. SPONSORSHIP: The Institute of European Food Studies, a non-profit research organization based in Trinity College Dublin. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2000) 54, 166-173

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Enhancing the capacity of food consumption surveys of short duration to estimate long-term consumer-only intakes by combination with a qualitative food frequency questionnaire.

In principle, a proper risk assessment for a food chemical requires that the time-frame for food chemical intake estimates matches the time-frame for the toxicological assessments upon which the safety statements (ADI, PTWI, etc.) are based. For food additives, the toxicological assessments are based on exposure over a lifetime. While food consumption data cannot be collected over the lifetimes of individuals, the information should reflect habitual intakes as closely as possible. This study investigated the possibility of combining a 3-day food diary with a food frequency questionnaire to estimate mean consumer-only food intakes comparable to estimates based on a 14-day diary. The study population consisted of 948 teenagers and analysis was based on 32 clearly defined foods. For 47% of the foods, the difference was < or = 1 g/day. When expressed as portion sizes, 56% of the foods showed differences representing < 5% of an average portion and no food showed a difference > 14% of an average portion. When between-method differences (portions/day) were plotted against the mean of the methods, the mean between-method difference was 0.02(+/- 0.06) portions/day with limits of agreement of -0.10 to 0.14. This preliminary investigation suggests that the combined 3-day diary and FFQ method provides comparable estimates of mean consumer only intakes to a 14-day diary. Therefore, a qualitative FFQ may be a useful adjunct to a food consumption survey of short duration if estimates of longer term food intakes are required.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Trends and regional differences in coronary risk factors in two areas in Belgium: final results from the MONICA Ghent-Charleroi Study.

OBJECTIVE: To study regional differences and trends in coronary risk factors and in predicted coronary risk calculated on the basis of multiple logistic function equations for the general population aged 25-64 years in two areas in Belgium during the period 1985-1992. DESIGN: A comparison of cross-sectional data on coronary risk factors between two cities and different survey periods. METHOD: In the cities of Ghent (in Flanders) and Charleroi (in Walloonia) in Belgium, three consecutive cross-sectional age-stratified and sex-stratified random samples of 2000 subjects each were selected from the general population. We studied their coronary risk factors between 1985 and 1992. The field work was carried out according to the protocol of the international WHO-MONICA project. RESULTS: We observed a significant decrease in the prevalence of smoking among men in the two cities over the three surveys, while a gradual increase in diastolic blood pressure for all subgroups in Ghent was seen (this was statistically significant for men aged 45-64 years and women aged 25-44 years). The overall coronary risk predicted on the basis of multiple-logistic-function equations did not however, exhibit significant trends over time in either city. Comparisons between the two centres revealed significantly higher mean serum levels of total cholesterol in Charleroi than in Ghent (for all subgroups except women aged 45-64 years) and significantly higher mean systolic blood pressures in Charleroi for all subgroups defined in terms of age and sex. Prevalences of hypertension in Ghent were significantly lower than those in Charleroi for individuals aged 25-44 years, while the prevalence of obesity in all subgroups in Ghent was also significantly lower. The overall predicted coronary risk in Charleroi was also significantly higher, except for men aged 45-64 years. The differences in mean predicted risk ranged from 5.0% for men aged 45-64 years to 21.2% for women aged 45-64 years. CONCLUSIONS: From the data in this article it seems that the trends in overall coronary risk profiles in Ghent and Charleroi are not in accordance with the observed trends in incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in these two cities. On the other hand, the differences in predicted coronary risk between the two cities are in the same direction as the observed differences in incidence of CHD between the two cities, but are however too small to explain fully the observed difference in incidence of CHD between the two centres.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Nutrient and food intakes in selected subgroups of Belgian adults.

In March 1997, official dietary guidelines were for the first time published in Belgium by the National Council on Nutrition. These guidelines are entirely focussed on nutrient intake and do not translate this information into specific 'food-based' recommendations. In this paper, actual intake data for the adult Belgian population are compared to these guidelines. It is concluded that the overall macronutrient intake pattern in Belgium corresponds to the typical Western so-called affluent diet. As a next step, an attempt is made to outline a conceptual framework for developing food-based dietary guidelines on the basis of existing food consumption databases. For that purpose, nutrient and food intake profiles--percentage of consumers and mean intakes for the total population and for consumers only--are studied for subgroups of the population that do or do not comply to predefined dietary goals for total fat intake, fibre intake, and fruit and vegetable intake. Finally, it is shown with an example that these data can be used as a basis for formulating healthy food recommendations towards the general population in terms of specific foods or food groups to be avoided or to be chosen preferably. The food and nutrient intake data used in this paper are from the BIRNH study (Belgian Interuniversity Research on Nutrition and Health, 1980-1984), the only nationwide food consumption survey on an individual level ever carried out in Belgium.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Trends in coronary heart disease in two Belgian areas: results from the MONICA Ghent-Charleroi Study.

SETTING: As part of the WHO-MONICA study, acute coronary events have been registered from 1983 until 1992 in the general population aged 25-69 years in two Belgian cities--Ghent in the northern Dutch speaking part of Belgium and Charleroi in the southern French speaking part. Registration of events was done according to an international standard protocol. OBJECTIVE: To study trends in total, fatal and non-fatal event rates and trends in case fatality rates in these two cities. MAIN RESULTS: Incidence of CHD was on average 50% higher in Charleroi compared with Ghent in both men and women (attack rate ratio Charleroi/Ghent was 1.5 in both sexes). In both men and women, diverging trends were observed between the two cities for total and non-fatal event rates, while parallel declining trends were observed in fatal event rates and in case fatality rates. In both sexes, total attack rates showed a significant decrease in Ghent and a significant increase in Charleroi. Also in the two sexes, attack rates of non-fatal events increased significantly in Charleroi and remained stable in Ghent. Attack rates of fatal events decreased significantly in men and women in Ghent and in men in Charleroi. Both "total" and "in hospital" case fatality rates declined significantly in both sexes in the two cities. CONCLUSIONS: Important differences in coronary heart disease (CHD) incidence and CHD trends between Ghent and Charleroi were observed. These differences and trends are interpreted in the context of existing and still growing differences in the overall socioeconomic situation between the north and the south of the country. On the other hand, the efficacy of medical treatment of CHD is comparable in the two regions, as reflected by similar figures and trends for case fatality rates.

Adult↗