Beyond the wheel of five: Micronutrient contributions of foods not meeting product-level composition criteria on micronutrient intake.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined how adherence to product recommendations in the Dutch Wheel of Five (W5) (the practical translation of the Dutch Dietary Guidelines 2015) was associated with adequacy of micronutrient intake in a Dutch population.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional design based on two 24-h dietary recalls from the Dutch National Food Consumption Survey 2019-2021 (n = 1747). First, we determined the percentage of micronutrient intake from foods within or outside the W5. Subsequently, standardized changes in micronutrient intake (expressed as % of Recommended Daily Allowance) for each one-percentage-point increase in energy intake from W5 foods were calculated and depicted in radar graphs.

SETTING

Community.

PARTICIPANTS

adult population aged 18-79 years.

RESULTS

Products advised within the W5 provided ∼50-65% of the advised mineral intake and 50-75% of the advised vitamin intake. Products outside the W5 provided most sodium (>70%) and vitamin A (∼55-60%). The better the adherence to the product recommendations of the W5, the higher the micronutrient intake. The micronutrients most strongly related to better adherence to the W5 were vitamin D, B3, B12, C, selenium, copper, potassium and phosphorus.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher adherence to products within the W5 is associated with improved micronutrient intake. Nonetheless, many micronutrients are also significantly supplied by foods outside the W5.