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In 2019, the Nordic network on dietary surveys compared results regarding 24 h recalls, if the method was used in a systematic Nordic set up. A standardized central food list for 7 days was entered into national nutrients calculation systems and the intakes of individual food groups and nutrients on each day and as a daily average of the 7 days were compared. Results were presented at an online workshop on November 20th, 2020. In addition to the country specific presentations of the analysis, each country also gave a presentation on the latest national dietary survey. Despite standardized input, there were many differences in the results. The presentations on national dietary surveys showed differences and similarities of conducting dietary surveys and elucidated a lot of the common challenges researchers face. Many topics could be further elucidated on future network meetings.

A Nordic working group was established in 2007 with the aim to describe a future Nordic Monitoring System on diet, physical activity and overweight. The system was validated in 2009 and in 2011 and 2014, the first data collections took place. The Nordic Monitoring Group has discussed future developments of the monitoring system based on experience from the first two data collections. The Nordic Monitoring Group has described how results from the monitoring have been communicated and used for several purposes. The current Nordic working paper sums up the deliveries from the Nordic Monitoring System and points forward to a new data collection.

The data in this article describe the use of dietary supplements in Danish patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). The data were collected from a web-based dietary survey on dietary habits in 774 patients with T1D (n = 426) and T2D (n = 348). The data demonstrate that 99% of the patients with diabetes use dietary supplements with no gender differences. In comparison, only 64% in the general population use dietary supplements [2]. A higher proportion of people in the general population use multivitamin/mineral supplementation as compared to patients with diabetes (48% vs. 34–37%) and a higher proportion of women than men with diabetes use multivitamin/mineral supplementation (T1D: 43% women vs. 26% men and T2D: 45% women vs. 34% men). More patients with diabetes than the general population use supplements such as calcium together with vitamin D, vitamin D, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium, calcium, Q10, ginger, garlic, and other herbal supplements.

Effective food policies in Europe require insight into the environmental impact of consumers’ diet to contribute to global nutrition security in an environmentally sustainable way. The present study therefore aimed to assess the environmental impact associated with dietary intake across four European countries, and to explain sources of variations in environmental impact by energy intake, demographics and diet composition. Individual-level dietary intake data were obtained from nationally-representative dietary surveys, by using two non-consecutive days of a 24-h recall or a diet record, from Denmark (DK, n = 1710), Czech Republic (CZ, n = 1666), Italy (IT, n = 2184), and France (FR, n = 2246). Dietary intake data were linked to a newly developed pan-European environmental sustainability indicator database that contains greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) and land use (LU) values for ∼900 foods. To explain the variation in environmental impact of diets, multilevel regression models with random intercept and random slopes were fitted according to two levels: adults (level 1, n = 7806) and country (level 2, n = 4). In the models, diet-related GHGE or LU was the dependent variable, and the parameter of interest, i.e. either total energy intake or demographics or food groups, the exploratory variables. A 200-kcal higher total energy intake was associated with a 9% and a 10% higher daily GHGE and LU. Expressed per 2000 kcal, mean GHGE ranged from 4.4 (CZ) to 6.3 kgCO2eq/2000 kcal (FR), and LU ranged from 5.7 (CZ) to 8.0 m2*year/2000 kcal (FR). Dietary choices explained most of the variation between countries. A 5 energy percent (50 g/2000 kcal) higher meat intake was associated with a 10% and a 14% higher GHGE and LU density, with ruminant meat being the main contributor to environmental footprints. In conclusion, intake of energy, total meat and the proportion of ruminant meat explained most of the variation in GHGE and LU of European diets. Contributions of food groups to

The aim of the present paper is to summarise current and future applications of dietary assessment technologies in nutrition surveys in developed countries. It includes the discussion of key points and highlights of subsequent developments from a panel discussion to address strengths and weaknesses of traditional dietary assessment methods (food records, FFQ, 24 h recalls, diet history with interviewer-assisted data collection) v. new technology-based dietary assessment methods (web-based and mobile device applications). The panel discussion ‘Traditional methods v. new technologies: dilemmas for dietary assessment in population surveys’, was held at the 9th International Conference on Diet and Activity Methods (ICDAM9), Brisbane, September 2015. Despite respondent and researcher burden, traditional methods have been most commonly used in nutrition surveys. However, dietary assessment technologies offer potential advantages including faster data processing and better data quality. This is a fast-moving field and there is evidence of increasing demand for the use of new technologies amongst the general public and researchers. There is a need for research and investment to support efforts being made to facilitate the inclusion of new technologies for rapid, accurate and representative data.

Background/Objectives:Differences in the quality of complementary feeding between infants of obese and nonobese mothers have not been examined sufficiently. The aim of this paper was to compare dietary patterns, foods, nutrients and energy intakes of 9-month-old Danish infants in a cohort comprising obese mothers (SKOT II, n=184; SKOT, Danish abbreviation of small children's diet and well-being) with a cohort consisting mainly of nonobese mothers (SKOT I, n=329).Subjects/Methods:Dietary intake was assessed by 7-day records, and dietary patterns were identified by principal component analysis.Results:SKOT I was characterized by a lower maternal body mass index (BMI) and a higher social class than SKOT II in relation to parental education and occupation. Infants in SKOT II had lower scores on a Health-Conscious Food pattern reflected at the food group level, for example, with lower intake of the food groups Fruit and Vegetable but higher intake of WheatBreadNoWholegrain in SKOT II compared with SKOT I. Moreover, SKOT II had shorter durations of breastfeeding, earlier introductions of complementary feeding, higher energy intake from protein but lower energy intakes from monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids at 9 months. SKOT II had higher weight-for-age and length-for-age z-scores, but no differences in BMI z-scores, as compared with SKOT I at 9 months.Conclusions:Infants of obese mothers from a lower social class seem to have a less healthy diet and higher weight and length z-scores at 9 months. Therefore, the promotion of healthy complementary feeding might be beneficial for the prevention of health implications, such as obesity, later in life for these infants.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition advance online publication, 3 December 2014; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2014.258.

To determine seasonal variation in vitamin D status in healthy Caucasian adolescent girls and elderly community-dwelling women living in Denmark, and to quantify the impact of sun exposure and intake on the seasonal changes in vitamin D status.

The report describes the results of the first collection of data in the joint Nordic monitoring study of diet, physical activity and overweight. The study provides baseline data for frequency of intake in selected foods, physical activity level and prevalence of overweight and obesity in the Nordic countries. Telephone interviews were performed in the Nordic countries with the same validated questionnaire using simple indicator questions. The interviews were carried out in the autumn of 2011 including 9153 adults and 2479 children. The results show that all countries are far from the goals in the Nordic Plan of Action and there are areas to be improved in all countries. The study gives a good status for dietary intake indicators, indicators for physical activity, sedentary time and overweight which makes it possible follow changes in these parameters over time in the Nordic countries.

Background/Objectives: This study evaluates the feasibility among preschoolers of the 224-h dietary recalls (24-HDRs) method combined with a food-recording booklet (FRB), using EPIC-Soft pc-program for the 24-HDR (the software developed to conduct 24-HDRs in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Study). Subjects/Methods: A total of 20 and 25 (4- to 5-year-old) children were recruited, as a convenience sample, through worksites or day or healthcare in Denmark and Spain, respectively. One parent (or both parents together) completed two face-to-face 24- HDR, combined with an optional use of a FRB. Feasibility was evaluated by evaluation questionnaires completed by parents and interviewers. Results: The face-to-face interviews were primarily conducted with the mothers. The FRB was used by 90% of the participants, and proxy persons, other than the parent, were also involved; involvement of proxy persons seems necessary in a majority of the recalls in both the countries. Conclusions: The results suggest that 224-HDR with one parent combined with a FRB is feasible for registering preschoolers’ diet. An FRB and/or information from proxy persons, other than the parent, is needed for a majority of the parents. In future studies, it may be beneficial to develop the FRB more like a structured food record (FR), which might, in principle, change the method to a one-day FR method from more than a 24-HDR method. It is recommended then to further investigate the use of EPIC-Soft as a data-entry tool.

Background/Objectives: The main objective of European Food Consumption Validation (EFCOVAL)-child Project is to define and evaluate a trans-European methodology for undertaking national representative dietary surveys among children in the age group of 4–14 years. In the process of identifying the best dietary assessment methodologies, experts were brought together at a workshop. The paper presents the discussion of the best available method and the final recommendations for a trans-European dietary assessment method among 4- to 14-year-old children. Subjects/Methods: The starting point was to investigate whether the method (two non-consecutive 24-h dietary recalls (24-HDRs)) suggested for the adults in European Food Consumption Survey Method (EFCOSUM) would be usable for children in the age group between 4 and 14 years. However, all available dietary assessment methods were included in the discussion to ensure that the final recommendation would be based on the best evidence. Six criteria were defined and used as additional guidance in the process. Results: The literature does not give a clear recommendation on the dietary assessment methods that are most suitable for children in the age group of 4–14 years. Nevertheless, on the basis of the literature, the recommendations were separated for preschoolers (4–6 years) and schoolchildren (7–14 years). Conclusion: For preschoolers, two non-consecutive days of a structured food record are recommended, using a (for children adapted) picture booklet and household measures for portion-size estimation. For schoolchildren, repeated 24-HDRs are recommended, using a picture booklet and household measures for portion-size estimation. In addition, the child should bring a booklet to register what is eaten out of home. One parent should assist the schoolchild at the 24-HDR interview, and therefore face-to-face interviews are required.