Research on Intake of GrainBased Foods

1
Research on Intake of Grain-Based Foods

• Alison L. Eldridge, Ph.D., R.D.

2
National Surveys

• Nutrient data files contain information about
  macronutrient composition and components that can
  be measured analytically
• Total carbohydrate
• Soluble and insoluble fiber
• Total fiber
• USDAs Food Pyramid Servings database estimates
  servings consistent with the Food Guide Pyramid
• Whole grain servings
• Refined grain servings

3
Databases for Research

• No publicly available database on whole grain
  content of foods
• Researchers construct their own databases of
  whole grain content
• Generally categorize foods as High, Medium and
  Low in whole grain
• Inconsistent assumptions about whole grain
  content across databases
• Issues with whole grain intake estimates from
  FFQs
• Limited number of whole grain foods
• Possibility for misclassification of whole grain
  intake
• Brown bread whole grain
• Estimates of whole grain intake are not very
  specific

4
Research Needs

• Need a comprehensive, publicly available database
  of whole grain content of foods
• Estimate g whole grain/100 g product
• Estimate g refined grain/100 g product
• Separate bran