Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Communication
  • Published:

Micronutrient intake in overweight subjects is not deficient on an ad libitum fat-reduced, high-simple carbohydrate diet

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 58, pages 326–336 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether subjects consuming a fat-reduced, high-simple carbohydrate diet (SCHO) are at greater risk of micronutrient inadequacy than subjects consuming a fat-reduced, high-complex carbohydrate (CCHO) or a normal-fat diet (control, CD).

Design: A 6-month randomised controlled dietary intervention trial with a parallel design.

Methods: In total, 46 overweight (BMI: 24.4–36.3 kg/m2) subjects (19 males, 27 females) aged 21–54 y consumed one of three ad libitum diets: SCHO, CCHO, or CD. Nutrient intake was assessed by a 7-day weighed food record.

Results: Self-reported energy intake did not differ between diet groups. The lowest intake of vitamin B12 was found in the SCHO group vs CCHO (P=0.025) and vs. CD (P=0.012). In men, zinc intake was lower on the SCHO diet compared to the CD diet (P=0.018). The recommendations for zinc and vitamin B12 were, however, met by all the diet groups. No other diet differences were observed. Intake of several micronutrients were insufficient in all three diet groups, although in most cases comparable to average Danish intakes.

Conclusion: Zinc intake in men and vitamin B12 intake in the combined gender groups were lower on a fat-reduced, simple carbohydrate-rich diet compared to a habitual, normal-fat diet, but not below recommended levels.

Sponsorship: The EU-FAIR program (PL 95-809), the Sugar Bureau, the European Sugar Industries, the Danish Medical Research Council, and the Danish Research and Development Programme for Food Technology.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1
Figure 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Astrup A & Raben A (1996): Mono- and disaccharides: nutritional aspects. In Carbohydrates in Food, ed. AC Eliasson, pp 159–189. New York: Marcell Dekker Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baecke JAH, Burema J & Frijters JER (1982): A short questionnaire for the measurement of habitual physical activity in epidemiological studies. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 36, 936–942.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bandini LG, Schoeller DA, Cyr HN & Dietz WH (1990): Validity of reported energy intake in obese and nonobese adolescents. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 52, 421–425.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beerman KA & Dittus K (1993): Source of error associated with self-reports of food intake. Nutr. Res. 13, 765–770.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bolton-Smith C (1996): Intake of sugars in relation to fatness and micronutrient adequacy. Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord. 20 (Suppl 2), S31–S33.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen AM, Bavly S & Poznanski R (1961): Change of diet of Yemenite Jews in relation to diabetes and ischæmic heart disease. Lancet 2, 1399–1401.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen AM & Teitelbaum A (1966): Effect of different levels of protein in ‘sucrose’ and ‘starch’ diets on the glucose tolerance and growth. Metabolism 15, 1034–1038.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DH (1989): Dietary sugars and human disease. Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy. Report on health and social subjects no. 37. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Department of Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO/WHO/UNU (1985): Energy and protein requirements. Report of a joint FAO/WHO/UNU Expert Consultation. Technical Report Series no. 724. Geneva: World Health Organization.

  • Fricker J, Baelde D, Igoin-Apfelbaum L, Huet JM & Apfelbaum M (1992): Underreporting of food intake in obese ‘small eaters’. Appetite 19, 273–283.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gibney M, Sigman-Grant M, Stanton Jr JL & Keast DR (1995): Consumption of sugars. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 62 (Suppl), 178S–194S.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gibson SA (1997): Do diets high in sugars compromise micronutrient intakes? Micronutrient intakes in the Dietary and Nutritional Survey of British Adults according to dietary concentration of ‘added’, ‘non-milk extrinsic’ or ‘total’ sugars. J. Hum. Nutr. Diet. 10, 125–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goris AHC, Westerterp-Plantenga MS & Westerterp KR (2000): Undereating and underrecording of habitual food intake in obese men: selective underreporting of fat intake. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 71, 130–134.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heitmann BL & Lissner L (1995): Dietary underreporting by obese individuals — is it specific or non-specific?. BMJ 311, 986–989.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heitmann BL, Lissner L & Osler M (2000): Do we eat less fat, or just report so? Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord. 24, 435–442.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lissner L, Habicht J-P, Strupp BJ, Levitsky DA, Haas JD & Roe DA (1989): Body composition and energy intake: do overweight women overeat and underreport? Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 49, 320–325.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lukaski HC, Bolonchuk WW, Hall CB & Siders WA (1986): Validation of tetrapolar bioelectrical impedance method to assess human body composition. Am. J. Physiol. 60, 1327–1332.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • NCM (1996): Nordic nutrition recommendations. Nordic Committe on Foods. Report 28. Copenhagen: Nordic Council of Ministers.

  • NFA (1987): Danish dietary habits 1985, 2. Who eats what? (in Danish with an English summary). Publication no. 154, pp 139–194. Copenhagen: National Food Agency.

  • NFA (1996): Danish dietary habits 1995 (in Danish with an English summary). Publication no. 235, pp 77–155. Copenhagen: National Food Agency.

  • Poppitt SD, Swann D, Black AE & Prentice AM (1998): Assessment of selective under-reporting of food intake by both obese and non-obese women in a metabolic facility. Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord. 22, 303–311.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prentice AM, Black AE, Coward WA, Davies HL, Goldberg GR, Murgatroyd PR, Ashford J, Sawyer M & Whitehead RG (1986): High levels of energy expenditure in obese women. BMJ 292, 983–987.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raben A, Macdonald I & Astrup A (1997): Replacement of dietary fat by sucrose or starch: effects on 14 d ad libitum energy intake, energy expenditure and body weight in formerly obese and never-obese subjects. Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord. 21, 846–859.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rugg-Gunn AJ, Hackett AF, Jenkins GN & Appleton DR (1991): Empty calories? Nutrient intake in relation to sugar intake in English adolescents. J. Hum. Nutr. Diet. 4, 101–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruxton CHS, Garceau FJS & Cottrell RC (1999): Guidelines for sugar consumption in Europe: is a quantitative approach justified? Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 53, 503–513.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saris WHM, Astrup A, Prentice AM, Zunft HJF, Formiguera X, Verboeket-van de Venne WPHG, Raben A, Poppitt SD, Seppelt B, Johnston S, Vasilaras TH & Keogh GF (2000): Randomized controlled trial of changes in dietary carbohydrate/fat ratio and simple vs complex carbohydrates on body weight and blood lipids: the CARMEN study. Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord. 24, 1310–1318.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Skov AR, Toubro S, Raben A & Astrup A (1997): A method to achieve control of dietary macronutrient composition in ad libitum diets consumed by free-living subjects. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 51, 667–672.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • van Erp-Baart AMJ, Saris WHM, Binkhorst RA, Vos JA & Elvers JWH (1989): Nationwide survey on nutritional habits in elite athletes. Part II. Mineral and vitamin intake. Int. J. Sports Med. 10 (Suppl 1), S11–S16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vasilaras TH, Raben A, Lindeløv TS & Astrup A (1997): Self-reported energy intake including data from a shop system corresponds to estimated energy needs in obese subjects. Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord. 21 (Suppl 2), S69 (abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Vasilaras TH, Raben A & Astrup A (2001): Twenty-four hour energy expenditure and substrate oxidation before and after 6 months' ad libitum intake of a diet rich in simple or complex carbohydrates or a habitual diet. Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord. 25, 954–965.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vasilaras TH, Raben A, Bülow J & Astrup A (2003): Changes in bone mineral content body weight and body composition following 6 months' ad libitum intake of a diet rich in simple or complex carbohydrates. In preparation.

  • Willett W (1990): Implications of total energy intake for epidemiologic analyses. In Nutritional epidemiology, ed. W Willett, pp 245–271. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yudkin J (1964): Dietary fat and dietary sugar in relation to ischcemic heart-disease and diabetes. Lancet 2, 4–5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We gratefully thank the participants, the project staff of the Department of Human Nutrition, as well as the food sponsors for kindly contributing to the food selection.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Nutrition, Centre for Advanced Food Studies, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg C, Denmark

    T H Vasilaras, A Astrup & A Raben

Authors
  1. T H Vasilaras
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A Astrup
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A Raben
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Guarantor: A Raben.

Contributors: All investigators contributed to the concept and planning of the study. THV did the statistical analysis. THV wrote the first draft of the paper. All investigators contributed to subsequent drafts of the paper.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to T H Vasilaras.

Appendices

Appendix A

List of food items available from the experimental shop according to diet group is given in Table A1.

Table 4 Table A1
Full size table

Appendix B

An example of a typical day-menu according to diet group is given in Table B1. Meals include food items from the shop supplied by self-selected foods bought in conventional supermarkets. Also listed is the macronutrient composition for each menu corresponding to an energy content of 10 MJ.

Table 5 Table B1
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vasilaras, T., Astrup, A. & Raben, A. Micronutrient intake in overweight subjects is not deficient on an ad libitum fat-reduced, high-simple carbohydrate diet. Eur J Clin Nutr 58, 326–336 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601785

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601785

Keywords

Search

Advanced search

Quick links