The Dynamics and Temporal Trends of Energy and Macronutrients Intake in the Diet in Japan: A Joinpoint Regression Analysis of the National Nutrition Survey Data from 1946 to 2015 (P18-054-19)

Abstract

ObjectivesDue to the long life expectancy and lower incidence and mortality from coronary artery disease, the world is now focusing on the Japanese diet boom. Hence, the aim of this study was to analyze the temporal trends and significant changes in energy and macronutrient intakes in the Japanese diet from 1946 to 2015. MethodsEnergy and macronutrient intakes data were obtained from the National Nutrition Survey in Japan (J-NNS), an annual nationwide survey on nutrition and diet of Japanese people. We used joinpoint regression analysis to investigate significant changes in trends. The annual percentage change (APC) was computed for each period in the trends. ResultsWe had extracted five significant phases of energy intake changes in the dietary history of Japan after World War II from 1946 to 2015. The first extracted phase, a rapid recovery phase, was extended from 1946 to 1949 after World War II (APC = 3.05). After this phase, a stagnation phase of energy intake was persisting from 1949 to 1962 (APC = 0.04) and was followed by a rapid increasing phase from 1962 to 1969. Among all the phases the extended phase was, a long declining phase, persisted from 1969 to 2011 (APC = −0.51). Carbohydrate intake in the Japanese diet showed a significant and stable downward trend from 1949 to 2015 including a very sharp decline in the 1970 s (APC = −2.02). Unlike carbohydrate, fat intake increased significantly from 1946 to 1960 (APC = 4.36) and then at a marked rate (APC = 6.33) until 1973 and thereafter it was almost leveled off. The trends of protein intake showed an inverted boat pattern. Moreover, protein intake from animal sources increased markedly until 1995 with a very sharp increase from 1946 to 1952 (APC = 11.86). ConclusionsFrom the 1950 s the carbohydrate intake decreased in the Japanese diet. Fat and animal protein intake increased until the first half of the 1970 s and the second half of the 1990 s, respectively; afterwards, they started to decrease. During the 1960 s there was a healthier shift in the structure of the Japanese diet which is similar in characteristics of behavioral change in the nutrition transition. Funding SourcesThere were no funding sources for this study.