Short communication: Nutrient intake and total caloric intake are not entirely proportionate to metabolic disease prevalence

Background

Dietary composition has been brought up as one of the main causes of the dramatic rise of metabolic disease over the past years. Intake of specific (macro)nutrients such as fat and sugar have been associated with higher risk of metabolic syndrome, as well as a general excessive energy intake. In a previous study, we investigated trends in (macro)nutrient intake and metabolic disease in the United States, but total caloric intake was not addressed.

Methods

In this follow-up study, data on total caloric intake per capita per day was collected for the United States from 1900 until now. Total caloric intake was also calculated based on previously collected data on nutrient intake per capita per day. Trends were visualized and statistically compared with data previously collected regarding metabolic syndrome, obesity, and diabetes.

Results

It was found that total caloric intake has risen considerably, from approximately 3200 in the year 1900 to nearly 4000 from the year 2000 until now. The caloric intake did not correlate with the trends in metabolic disease prevalence, except for diagnosed (pre)diabetes.

Conclusions

As highlighted in our previous work, there is a discrepancy between nutrient and caloric intake and the steep rise in metabolic disease. This suggests that there are other factors that need to be addressed in future studies, in addition to excess nutrient and energy intake, as suspected causes of the metabolic disease epidemic.