Inadequate Energy and Micronutrient Intakes Across Filipino Population Groups: Findings from the 2021 Expanded...

Diet-related challenges and food insecurity are experienced by many Filipinos, underscoring the need for evidence-based interventions to improve diet quality and prevent malnutrition.

The study aimed to evaluate the usual energy and nutrient intakes and the probability of inadequate micronutrient intake across different population groups in the Philippines.

The 2021 Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS) was a nationally representative survey conducted in the Philippines; it assessed dietary intake using a quantitative 24-hr dietary recall (24HR), with a repeated recall among 50% of participants on non-consecutive days. Usual intakes, probability of inadequate intake (PII) for micronutrients, and mean probability of inadequacy (MPI) for 11 micronutrients were estimated using the National Cancer Institute method among children under-five (U5, n=4,930), school-aged children (SAC, 6-9 yrs, n=8,116), adolescents (10-19 yrs, n=15,394), adults (20-59 yrs, n=29,391), elderly (>60 yrs, n=9,170), non-pregnant/non-lactating women of reproductive age (NPNL-WRA, 15-49 yrs, n=15,037), pregnant women (n=436), and lactating women (n=1,354).

Mean energy intake ranged from 699 kcal/day in U5 to 1500 kcal/day in adults, and was below recommendations across all populations. Carbohydrates contributed 61% of energy in U5 and 73% in adults and lactating women. Protein contributed 12-14% and fat 13-26% across all groups. High PII (>75%) for calcium, zinc, vitamin C, riboflavin, iron, thiamine, and folate was observed in most groups, except for lower inadequacies in thiamine, folate, B6, and B12 among U5 and SAC. MPI increased with age, from 59.5% in U5 to 83.3% in lactating women and was higher among groups from food-insecure households.

Reported energy intake was below recommendations in most groups. Intake of many micronutrients was inadequate, particularly among NPNL-WRA, pregnant, and lactating women, highlighting the urgent need for targeted interventions to improve dietary quality, micronutrient intake, and food security among vulnerable populations.