Value of Food and Agriculture Organization data on food-balance sheets as a data source for dietary fat intake in epidemiologic studies

The relationships between the per person supply (expressed as percent of total energy supply) of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) obtained from 1979-1981 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) data, and the per person intake obtained from 52 individual dietary surveys performed in 19 countries, were examined. In particular, the ratio of PUFAs to SFAs (P:S) and the ratio of unsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs and PUFAs) to SFAs (U:S) obtained from both data sources were examined. Significant correlations (P less than 0.001) were found between the two data sources for the P:S, U:S, SFAs, and MUFAs and PUFAs (P less than 0.02) in 19 countries. It is concluded that the data on fat intake from the FAO are valid for use in epidemiologic studies. In view of the variability of the data, it is recommended to use them either expressed as percentage of energy or as ratios of the different components.