1. ¹Nutritional Epidemiology Research Unit INSERM 557, Paris, France
2. ²Nutritional Sciences Program, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

Correspondence: Dr N Darmon, Nutrition Research Unit, Inserm U476/Inra, Faculté de Médecine de la Timone, 27 Bd Jean Moulin 13382 Marseille Cedex 05, France. E-mail: nicole.darmon@medecine.univ-mrs.fr

Received 14 April 2005; Revised 31 August 2005; Accepted 14 September 2005; Published online 23 November 2005.

Abstract

Energy-dense diets offer a low-cost dietary option to the consumer. However, they are more likely to be nutrient-poor. In this study, based on the French national food consumption survey, the diet costs were estimated using retail food prices in France. Adult participants were stratified by quartiles of energy cost (in /10 MJ). Dietary energy density, energy and nutrient intakes were then compared across groups. Participants in the lowest quartile of energy cost had the highest energy intakes, the most energy-dense diets and the lowest daily intakes of key vitamins and micronutrients. Participants in the highest quartile of energy cost had lower energy intakes, and diets that were higher in nutrients and lower in energy density. However, their daily diet costs were 165% higher. In this observational study, the more nutrient-dense diets were associated with higher diet costs.