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Nutritional risks in the Spanish population: results of the eVe study
R M Ortega1, J Aranceta, Ll Serra-Majem
1Departamento de Nutrición, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
Objective:
To determine the vitamin status of different groups within the Spanish population.
Design:
Pooled analysis of cross-sectional population nutritional regional studies and meta-analysis of smaller studies in population subgroups performed in Spain between 1990 and 1999.
Subjects:
In total, 10 208 participants in eight random population studies aged 25-60 y and participants in 76 studies included in the meta-analysis.
Interventions:
The data from different nutritional studies performed on sample populations representative of eight regions of Spain were integrated into a single database. A meta-analysis was also performed on the results of nutritional studies on the Spanish population involving subjects of other ages and status (all published between 1990 and 1999).
Results:
The mean intakes observed after the integration of the eight regional studies, and in the meta-analysis study, were similar to those recommended, although a considerable percentage of people had insufficient intakes.
Conclusions:
Further studies are required, but the vitamin status of the Spanish population clearly shows room for improvement, especially with respect to vitamins B(2), B(6), A, E, D and folates. Bearing in mind that adequate vitamin intakes are associated with protection from a range of diseases, steps should be taken to correct the imbalances recorded.