Abstract
To determine the effects of increasing plant-based foods v. dairy foods on energy and nutrients of concern in adolescent females via diet modelling exercises. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used to compare nutrient intakes from usual diet with those from three dietary scenarios that increased current intakes by 100 % of the following: (i) plant-based foods; (ii) protein-rich plant-based foods; and (iii) milk, cheese and yoghurt. The first two scenarios had commensurate reductions in animal products. What We Eat in America, NHANES 2007-2010. Female adolescents (n 1594) aged 9-18 years. When currently consumed plant-based foods were increased by 100 %, there were increases in dietary fibre, added sugar, vitamin E, Fe and folate intakes. These increases were accompanied by decreases in total fat, saturated fat, Zn, vitamin D, Ca and protein intakes. Protein-rich plant foods are consumed in very low quantities in this population such that doubling their intake resulted in no real nutritional impact. When dairy products were increased by 100 % there were increases in intakes of vitamin D, Mg, Zn, Ca, K, energy, saturated fat and protein. Non-specific recommendations to increase plant foods can lead to unintended nutritional consequences. For adolescent girls, meeting the dietary recommendation of three daily servings of dairy improved the intake of the identified nutrients of concern while simultaneously providing adequate nutrients essential for proper growth and bone health critical during the adolescent phase.
Highlights
The present study shows that adolescent girls consume little protein-rich plant foods; there may be difficulty in getting them to increase their consumption to an amount that will lead to meaningful changes in nutrient intakes
Our diet modelling exercises in adolescent girls demonstrate that general non-specific recommendations to increase plant-based foods at the expense of all animal foods lead to some nutritional benefits but can result in unintended consequences
If adolescent females were to follow this dietary pattern, only two of the five nutrients of public health concern identified by the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans for adolescent females improved, while the intakes of the other three (Ca, vitamin D and K) worsened
Summary
Data from What We Eat in America, the dietary component of the NHANES 2007–2010, were used in all of our analyses. NHANES is a nationally representative cross-sectional study that utilizes a stratified, multistage probability sample of the non-institutionalized US population[26]. Food and nutrient intakes were determined from two non-consecutive 24 h dietary recalls. The first was conducted by an in-person interview at the mobile examination centre and the second was obtained via a telephone interview a few days later. Data coded as reliable by the US Department of Agriculture for adolescent females aged 9–18 years were used (n 1594). The National Cancer Institute method was used for estimating usual intakes and the covariates used were day sequence, Dietary Reference Intake age groups and recall weekday/ weekend indicators[27]
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