Dietary intake in Swedish medical students

Abstract

Background: A 3 day food record is a part of the medical curriculum in Göteborg, and the dietary intake of medical students from 1987 to 1993 has been reported previously. Objective: To study dietary intake in medical students, detect changes over time and qualitative differences between men and women, and compare with nutrition recommendations, intake in the Swedish population in general and in medical students in other countries. Design: A 3 day estimated food record of 1737 students during the years 1994-2006, performed at the medical school at Göteborg University. Results: Mean energy intake for men and women was 10.9 and 7.8 MJ, respectively, without significant differences between 1994 and 2006. Proportions of energy from fat, protein, carbohydrates and alcohol were 29/30, 16/16, 51/53 and 2/3E% in female/male students, respectively. The dietary intake of folate and dietary fibre was higher in 2006 than in 1994 in both genders, whereas the percentage of energy from saturated fat and dietary iron intake decreased over time. Conclusions: Energy intake was stable during 1994-2006. Significant and mostly positive differences over time were observed. The dietary intake in medical students compared quite well with Nordic Nutrition Recommendations, and in some aspects was better than in the general population. Keywords: dietary assessment; energy intake; folate; food record; time trends; vitamin C