Abstract
Nut consumption is associated with a range of health benefits. The current study aimed to examine nut consumption in the 2011-2012 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NNPAS) and to investigate associations between nut intake, nutrient intake and anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. Secondary analysis of the 2011-2012 NNPAS. Usual consumption of nuts in the 2011-2012 NNPAS was determined, and nut consumption was compared with population recommendations of 30 g nuts per day. The relationship between nut consumption and intakes of key nutrients, anthropometric outcomes (weight, BMI and waist circumference) and blood pressure was examined using linear regression for participants aged over 18 years. Australia. Australians (2 years and older, n 12 153) participating in the representative 2011-2012 NNPAS. Mean nut intake was 4·61 (95 % CI: 4·36, 4·86) g/d, with only 5·6 % of nut consumers consuming 30 g of nuts per day. Nut consumption was associated with significantly greater intakes of fibre, vitamin E, Fe, Mg and P. There was no association between nut consumption and body weight, BMI, waist circumference, or blood pressure. Exploration of nut consumption in a representative sample of Australians identified that nut intake does not meet recommendations. Higher nut consumption was not adversely associated with higher body weight, aligning with the current evidence base. Given the current levels of nut consumption in Australia, strategies to increase nut intake to recommended levels are required.
Highlights
MethodsThe 2011–2012 Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NNPAS) was a national nutrition survey conducted with 12 153 Australians aged 2 years and older[14]
Results from the National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NNPAS) component of the 2011–2013 Australian Health Survey (AHS) suggest that on the day of the survey, Australians consumed a mean of 5·2 g of nuts, considerably below the recommended 30 g(10)
We have recently developed a nut-specific database for application to Australian dietary data[12]
Summary
The 2011–2012 NNPAS was a national nutrition survey conducted with 12 153 Australians aged 2 years and older[14]. The details of the 2011–2012 NNPAS have been published previously[14]; briefly, the 2011–2012 NNPAS was a component of the 2011–2013 AHS. The 2011–2013 AHS sampled individuals from private dwellings in Australia. Individuals residing in non-private dwellings such as boarding schools, prisons, hospitals and nursing homes were excluded from the survey[14]. Private dwellings were selected for inclusion in the survey based on a stratified multistage area sample. One adult and one child (where appropriate) were selected for inclusion in the survey. Household and initial person weights were calculated to ensure that results were representative of the total population. These weights were benchmarked to the estimated population residing in private dwellings[14]
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