Opportunities for diet quality improvement: the potential role of staple grain foods

Author(s)

Fontanelli, Mariane de Mello ^[1] ; Arroyo, Angela Martinez ^{[1, 2]} ; Sales, Cristiane Hermes ^[1] ; Seal, Chris J. ^[3] ; Fisberg, Regina Mara ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Publ Hlth, Dept Nutr, Ave Dr Arnaldo 715, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Valparaiso, Fac Pharm, Sch Nutr & Dietet, Valparaiso - Chile

^[3] Publ Hlth Sci Inst, Human Nutr Res Ctr, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4HH, Tyne & Wear - England

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION; v. 24, n. 18, p. 6145-6156, DEC 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Objective: Given the high disease burden associated with the low intake of whole grains, modelling studies that estimate the impact of dietary strategies to increase more healthful grain foods consumption are essential to inform evidence-based and culturally specific policies. The current study investigated the potential nutritional impact of replacing staple grain foods with more healthful options. Design: Based on the 2015 Health Survey of Sao Paulo, a cross-sectional, population-based study, we modelled the substitution of white rice and white bread with brown rice and whole-wheat bread. Outcomes included changes in more healthful grain foods, energy and nutrient intakes. Setting: Urban area of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Participants: Participants aged over 12 years who completed a semi-structured questionnaire and one 24-h recall (n 1741). Results: The substitution of all white rice and white bread with brown rice and whole-wheat bread, respectively, would result in more than 5 % increases in Zn (+9 center dot 1 %), Ca (+9 center dot 3 %), vitamin E (+18 center dot 8 %), dietary fibre (+27 center dot 0 %) and Mg (+52 center dot 9 %) intake, while more than a 5 % decrease would be seen for total carbohydrate (-6 center dot 1 %), folate (-6 center dot 6 %), available carbohydrate (-8 center dot 5 %), Fe (-8 center dot 6 %), vitamin B-6 (-12 center dot 5 %), vitamin B-2 (-17 center dot 4 %), and vitamin B-1 (-20 center dot 7 %). A substantial increase in the amount of more healthful grain foods consumed would be seen (10 g/d to 220 g/d, or from 4 % to 69 % of total grain intake). Conclusions: Replacing white rice and white bread with their whole-grain versions has the potential to improve diet quality, suggesting they are prime targets for policy actions aiming at increasing intake of more healthful grain foods. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/18742-1 - Carbohydrate Quality Index: overview of the last decade, relation with micronutrient status and insulin resistance
• Grantee: Mariane de Mello Fontanelli
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 12/22113-9 - Biochemical indicators of micronutrient status and usual intakes of residents from the City of São Paulo - ISA-Capital Survey 2013
• Grantee: Regina Mara Fisberg
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/05125-7 - Lifestyle, biochemical and genetic markers as cardiometabolic risk factors: Health Survey in São Paulo City
• Grantee: Regina Mara Fisberg
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants