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Whole grain intakes in Irish adults: findings from the National Adults Nutrition Survey (NANS)

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Abstract

Purpose

Observational studies link high whole grain intakes to reduced risk of many chronic diseases. This study quantified whole grain intakes in the Irish adult population and examined the major contributing sources. It also investigated potential dietary strategies to improve whole grain intakes.

Methods

Whole grain intakes were calculated in a nationally representative sample of 1500 Irish adults using data from the most recent national food survey, the National Adult Nutrition Survey (NANS). Food consumption was assessed, at brand level where possible, using a 4-day semi-weighed food diary with whole grain content estimated from labels on a dry matter basis.

Results

Mean daily whole grain intakes were 27.8 ± 29.4 g/day, with only 19% of the population meeting the quantity-specific recommendation of 48 g per day. Wheat was the highest contributor to whole grain intake at 66%, followed by oats at 26%. High whole grain intakes were associated with higher dietary intakes of fibre, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and a higher alternative Mediterranean Diet Score. Whole grain foods were most frequently eaten at breakfast time. Regression analysis revealed that consumption of an additional 10 g of whole grain containing ‘ready-to-eat breakfast cereals’, ‘rice or pastas’, or ‘breads’ each day would increase intake of whole grains by an extra 5, 3.5, and 2.7 g, respectively.

Conclusions

This study reveals low intakes of whole grains in Irish adults. Recommending cereals, breads, and grains with higher whole grain content as part of public health campaigns could improve whole grain intakes.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the Irish Government, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the ‘Food for Health Research Initiative’ 2007–2012 and Project 13 F 542—National Nutritional Databases for Public Health and New Product Development.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UCD Institute of Food and Health, School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland

    Clare B. O’Donovan, Niamh F. Devlin, Maria Buffini, Michael J. Gibney, Anne P. Nugent & Breige A. McNulty

  2. School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

    Janette Walton & Albert Flynn

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Cork, Ireland

    Janette Walton

  4. Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Global Food Security, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, Ireland

    Anne P. Nugent

Authors
  1. Clare B. O’Donovan
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  2. Niamh F. Devlin
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  3. Maria Buffini
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  4. Janette Walton
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  5. Albert Flynn
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  6. Michael J. Gibney
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  7. Anne P. Nugent
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  8. Breige A. McNulty
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Contributions

AF and MJG were original grant holders on the National Adult Nutrition Survey. AF and JW contributed to the design and execution of the study and provided expert advice throughout. NFD and COD carried out the data analysis and wrote the first draft. BAMcN and APN contributed to the design of the study, data analysis, paper editing, and review. MB contributed to data analysis and review. All authors critically reviewed the manuscript and approved the final version submitted for publication.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anne P. Nugent.

Ethics declarations

Ethical standards

This study was approved by the University College Cork Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the Cork Teaching Hospitals and the Human Ethics Research Committee of University College Dublin (ECM 3 (p) 4 September 2008) and performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.

Informed consent

All persons gave their informed consent.

Conflict of interest

APN and MJG have previously received unrestricted research funding from Cereal Partners Worldwide, with no influence in the current analysis or study. There are no other conflicts of interest to declare.

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O’Donovan, C.B., Devlin, N.F., Buffini, M. et al. Whole grain intakes in Irish adults: findings from the National Adults Nutrition Survey (NANS). Eur J Nutr 58, 541–550 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-018-1615-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-018-1615-3

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