News Release

How much do so-called 'health foods' really contribute to nutrient intake?

Insights from Japanese Dietary Records

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Toho University

Proportion of participants whose habitual intake is below the estimated average requirement

image: 

Proportion of participants whose habitual intakes is below the estimated average requirement among users (n=122) and non-users (n=270) of fortified foods and/or dietary supplements. Among 392 Japanese adults, 122 adults were classified as users if they used fortified foods or dietary supplements at least once on the four-day food record days, and otherwise were classified as non-users.

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Credit: Dr. Minami Sugimoto

A research group led by Professor Keiko Asakura and Assistant Professor Minami Sugimoto of the Faculty of Medicine at Toho University analyzed dietary intake data of the Japanese population collected in 2012. They assessed the contribution of so-called “health foods” (fortified foods and dietary supplements) to nutrient intake. This study is expected to be useful for the formulation of health policies aimed at improving nutrient intake in Japan.

The results of this study were published in the journal BMC Nutrition on September 27, 2024.

The key points are as follows:

  • Users of fortified foods and/or dietary supplements had a higher intake of vitamins and minerals from base diets (i.e., diets excluding fortified foods and dietary supplements) than non-users, and a higher proportion met the adequate intake levels set by dietary reference standards.
  • Fortified foods and/or dietary supplements contributed to the adequate intake of certain nutrients in their users.
  • However, 2% of the users of fortified foods and/or dietary supplements had a risk of excessive vitamin B6 intake.

 

Journal:
BMC Nutrition(September 27, 2024)

Title:
Contribution of fortified foods and dietary supplements to total nutrient intakes and their adequacy in Japanese adults

Authors:
Minami Sugimoto, Keiko Asakura*, Nana Shinozaki, Kentaro Murakami, Shizuko Masayasu, Satoshi Sasaki

DOI:
10.1186/s40795-024-00935-w


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