Trends in dietary carbohydrate consumption from 1991–2008 in the Framingham Heart Study offspring cohort

Abstract

Longitudinal studies evaluating trends in dietary carbohydrate consumption among U.S. adults are limited. More recent studies reflective of the changes in food supply are needed to evaluate long‐term intakes and to compare them to dietary recommendations. We examined trends in dietary carbohydrate intake in the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) Offspring Cohort over a 17‐year period. The FHS offspring generation was recruited in 1971–75. Follow‐up exams were conducted every 4 years. Dietary data collection began at Exam 5 in 1991 using a semi‐quantitative food frequency questionnaire. This analysis included 3265 adults ages ≥25y with complete dietary data in at least three exams from 1991–2008. Mixed effects linear regression was used to examine trends in macronutrient and food intake using SASv9.3. Over 17 years of follow‐up, % energy from total carbohydrates (50.95% to 46.84%; p‐trend<0.0005) and from total sugars (18.19 % to 16.62%; p‐trend<0.0005) decreased. There was a decrease in % energy from fructose (5.41 to 4.76 %; p‐trend <0.0005) and % energy from sugar in beverages (1.43% to 0.9%, p‐trend<0.0005). Dietary fiber intake increased (18.01 to 19.21g, p‐trend<0.0005). Similar trends were observed when the analyses were stratified by sex. These results suggest some improvement in dietary carbohydrate quality over time in this cohort.Grant Funding Source: American Cancer Society Research Scholar Grant (#RSG‐12–005–01‐CNE)