Energy density of the diet, food volume and energy intake by age and sex in a healthy population

Abstract

Objective: To assess the changes in energy intake (EI), food intake volume (FV) and energy density (ED) related to age and gender in a population in the Mediterranean area of Spain, and to determine the different role of FV and ED on the consecution of the adequate EI throughout lifespan.

Subjects: One thousand and eighty-eight individuals (1–65 y) randomly selected from the population census.

Design: Cross-sectional study in which food intake was quantified by 24 h dietary recall, three non-consecutive days. Height and weight measurements were taken in 885 individuals.

Results: EI, FV and ED increased progressively (P<0.001) between 1–2 y and 10–12 y of age in both sexes. At 1–2 y the EI is 5.8±1.5 MJ/d, FV 1195±275 g/d and ED 4.8±0.9 kJ/g. Between 1–2 and 3–4 y, coinciding with an EI that increased up to 7.2±1.5 MJ/d, there was an increase in ED up to 6.1±0.8 kJ/g (P<0.001), while the FV did not vary significantly. At the start of puberty, between 7–9 and 10–12 y, when the EI increased to 9.7±0.9 MJ/d (P<0.001) in males, the ED rose to 7.1±0.9 kJ/g (P<0.001) while the FV did not vary significantly. At this age, a significant difference between the genders was observed in the EI (P=0.04), and in the ED (P=0.02) but not, as yet, in the FV. During adulthood, a significant trend towards decrease (P<0.001 in both sexes) was observed in EI and ED. However, FV decreased significantly only in females.

Conclusions: The changes in energy intake that were observed with respect to age and gender were accommodated-for by changes in the ED of the diet rather than by variations in food volume intake. Auto-regulation of the ED of the diet, sufficient for energy intake requirement changes, appears to be an essential human capacity for efficient nutrition.

Sponsorship: This study was funded, in part, by a grant for B Vizmanos from DANONE, Spain.