Nutrition
Publications and Materials

Below are selected publications and materials related to nutrition. Please note the year of publication may be later than the year(s) the data represent.

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Healthy Eating Index Scores among Adults, 60 Years of Age and Over, by Sociodemographic and Health Characteristics- United States, 1999-2002 (6/23/08)
Only 17% of older adults consumed a ‘‘good’’ quality diet. Females with a body mass index of 30 or higher ate fewer servings of dairy products, consumed a higher percentage of calories from total and saturated fat, and had a lower quality diet than those whose BMI was less than 30.

Blood Folate Levels: The Latest NHANES Results (6/23/08)
This data brief provides key findings on blood folate levels from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys and answers pertinent questions.

Folic Acid Awareness (2/14/08)
The B vitamin folic acid helps prevent birth defects. If a woman has enough folic acid in her body before and while she is pregnant, her baby is less likely to have a major birth defect of the brain or spine.

Use of Supplements Containing Folic Acid among Women of Childbearing Age- United States, 2007 (2/14/08)
Among all women of childbearing age, those aged 18-24 years had the least awareness regarding folic acid consumption, the least knowledge regarding when folic acid should be taken, and the lowest reported daily use of supplements containing folic acid.

Rethink Your Drink (11/19/07)
Calories in drinks are not hidden (they’re listed on the Nutrition Facts label), but many people don’t realize just how many calories beverages can contribute to their daily intake. Calories from drinks can really add up. But there is good news: you have plenty of options for reducing the number of calories in what you drink.

Trends in Folic Acid Supplement Intake among Women of Reproductive Age- California, 2002-2006 (11/19/07)
This report indicates that although the overall prevalence of intake of folic acid-containing supplements remained stable from 2002 (40%) to 2006 (41%) in California, use of such supplements decreased among Hispanic women and women with less education.

Iron Deficiency (10/9/07)
Young children and pregnant women are at higher risk of iron deficiency because of rapid growth and higher iron needs. Adolescent girls and women of childbearing age are at risk due to menstruation. In general, to prevent iron deficiency you can eat a healthful diet that includes good sources of iron.

Improve Your Health While Enjoying the Season’s Colorful Produce (7/27/07)
Summer is a great time to enjoy everything the season has to offer, including an abundance of fresh, tasty produce at its peak! The vibrant colors will liven up your meal, and the appealing flavors and aromas will tantalize your taste buds!

Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among Adults- United States, 2005 (4/17/07)
This report describes the results of an analysis, which indicated that 32.6% of adults consumed fruit two or more times per day, and 27.2% ate vegetables three or more times per day. The results underscore the need for continued interventions that encourage greater fruit and vegetable consumption among U.S. adults. The prevalence of eating vegetables three or more times per day was 22.1% among men and 32.2% among women and ranged from 20.9% among persons aged 18-24 years to 33.7% among persons aged 65 years and older.

Folate Status in Women of Childbearing Age, by Race/Ethnicity- United States, 1999-2000, 2001-2002, and 2003-2004 (2/1/07)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5551a2.htm
PDF
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5551.pdf
This report uses National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data to update findings and assess trends in serum folate and red blood cell folate levels by race/ethnicity from the 1999-2000 survey through the 2003-2004 survey. The results of these comparisons indicated that median serum folate concentrations among nonpregnant women of childbearing age decreased 16% from 1999-2000 through 2003-2004, and RBC folate concentrations decreased 8%. All women of childbearing age who are capable of becoming pregnant should consume 400 µg of folic acid daily to reduce the occurrence of NTD-affected pregnancies.

Nutrition for Everyone: Healthy Weight (1/8/07)
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/nutrition/nutrition_for_everyone/ healthy_weight/index.htm
Whether you want to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, it’s important to understand the connection between the energy your body takes in (through the foods you eat and the beverages you drink) and the energy your body uses (through the activities you do).

Nutrition Resources for Health Professionals: Weight Management Research to Practice Series (10/31/06)
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/nutrition/health_professionals/ practice/
This series is designed to summarize the science on a weight management topic for health professionals and the lay audience. Some installments in the series will be accompanied by a tool, which can be used by health professionals in practice.

5 A Day Basic Tips (9/19/06)
http://www.5aday.gov/tips/index.html (Non-CDC site)
Fruits and vegetables look good, taste great, and contain vitamins and minerals. Get tips on eating and using fruits and vegetables in your daily diet. Find out how much you need, how to add flavor to your salads and meals, how to eat healthy on the run, and much more.

Use of Dietary Supplements Containing Folic Acid among Women of Childbearing Age- United States, 2005 (10/30/05)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5438a4.htm
PDF (p. 955)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5438.pdf
This report summarizes results from the 2005 March of Dimes Gallup survey, which determined a decrease in the proportion of childbearing-aged women who reported taking folic acid in dietary supplements daily,* from 40% in 2004 to 33% in 2005, returning to a level consistent with that reported during 1995-2003. These results emphasize the need for innovative programs to increase folic acid consumption to further reduce neural tube defects (NTD). Daily periconceptional consumption of 400 µg of folic acid, as recommended by the Public Health Service since 1992, reduces the occurrence of NTDs by 50%-70%.

Making It Happen—School Nutrition Success Stories (4/30/05)
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/nutrition/Making-It-Happen/
This page tells the stories of 32 schools and school districts from across the United States and illustrates a wide variety of approaches that schools have taken to improve student nutrition. The most consistent theme emerging from these case studies is that students will buy and consume healthful foods and beverages—and schools can make money from healthful options.

Prevalence of Leading Types of Dietary Supplements Used in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-94 (11/30/04)
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ad/ad349.pdf
This report presents the prevalence of the leading types of dietary supplements taken during the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), 1988–94. Approximately 40 percent of the U.S. population 2 months of age and older reported taking some type of dietary supplement in NHANES III, and the leading supplements taken were multivitamin/multiminerals (22 percent), multivitamins plus vitamin C (15 percent), vitamin C as a single vitamin (13 percent), other dietary supplements such as herbal and botanical supplements (7 percent), and vitamin E as a single vitamin (6 percent). The three leading supplements used by adolescent and adult males and adolescent and young adult females were the same as the total population—multivitamin/multiminerals, multivitamins plus vitamin C, and vitamin C as a single vitamin—although the order varied by sex and age group.

Blood Mercury Levels in Young Children and Childbearing-Aged Women - United States, 1999-2002 (11/30/04)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5343a5.htm
PDF (p. 1018)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5343.pdf
To determine levels of total blood mercury (Hg) in childbearing-aged women and in children aged 1-5 years in the United States, CDC's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) began measuring blood Hg levels in these populations in 1999. This report summarizes NHANES results for 1999-2002 and updates previously published information. The findings confirmed that blood Hg levels in young children and women of childbearing age usually are below levels of concern. However, approximately 6% of childbearing-aged women had levels at or above a reference dose, an estimated level assumed to be without appreciable harm (>5.8 µg/L). Women who are pregnant or who intend to become pregnant should follow federal and state advisories on consumption of fish.

SLC19A1 (RFC1) A80G Polymorphism, Maternal Multivitamin with Folate Use, and Orofacial and Conotruncal Heart Defects (11/30/04)
http://www.cdc.gov/genomics/hugenet/ejournal/RFC1.htm
This study evaluates an association between a gene other than methylenetetrahydrofolate involved in the folate metabolic pathway. Although the findings were only ‘suggestive’ of an interaction between reduced folate carrier-1genotype and perinatal folic acid intake in association with conotruncal heart defects, they further support the value of food fortification with folic acid and maternal periconceptional vitamin use.

5 A Day in Espanol (10/30/04)
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/5AlDia/
5 A Day in Español offers healthy recipes, great nutrition information, and advice for the Spanish speaking audience.

Use of Vitamins Containing Folic Acid Among Women of Childbearing Age- United States, 2004 (9/30/04)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5336a6.htm
PDF (p. 847)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5336.pdf
This report presents results from the Gallup Organization/March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation 2004 survey, which indicated that although no substantial increase in the proportion of women who use vitamins containing folic acid daily occurred during 1995-2003, a substantial increase was observed in 2004, with 40% of women aged 18-45 years reporting daily consumption of a vitamin containing folic acid. This report also presents information about women's dieting behaviors. Regardless of dieting status, public health programs should stress the importance of women in their childbearing years consuming 400 µg of folic acid daily through supplements, fortified foods, and a diet containing folate-rich foods.

Trends in Intake of Energy and Macronutrients– U.S., 1971-2000 (2/6/04)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5304a3.htm
PDF (p. 80)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5304.pdf
Evaluating trends in dietary intake is an important step in understanding the factors that contribute to the increase in obesity. To assess trends in intake of energy (i.e., kilocalories [kcals]), protein, carbohydrate, total fat, and saturated fat during 1971-2000, CDC analyzed data from four National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. During 1971-2000, a statistically significant increase in average energy intake occurred. For men, average energy intake increased from 2,450 kcals to 2,618 kcals, and for women, from 1,542 kcals to 1,877 kcals. For men, the percentage of kcals from carbohydrate increased between 1971-1974 and 1999-2000, from 42.4% to 49.0%, and for women, from 45.4% to 51.6%.

Intake of Calories and Selected Nutrients for the United States Population, 1999-2000 (12/24/03)
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/databriefs/calories.pdf
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) provides information on the health and nutritional status of the civilian, noninstitutionalized population of the United States residing in the 50 States and the District of Columbia. NHANES 1999-2000 included a 24-hour dietary recall interview to obtain information from participants on their intake of foods and beverages from the previous day. Using detailed databases of the nutrient composition of foods from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, estimates of nutrient intake were calculated for each participant. Comparisons are made between male and female, and adult and child/adolescent.

Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance, 2001
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/pdf/2001_ped_nutrition_report.pdf
The Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System is a child-based public health surveillance system that monitors the nutritional status of low income children in federally funded maternal and child health programs. Data on birthweight, short stature, underweight, overweight, anemia, and breastfeeding are collected for children who attend public health clinics for routine care, nutrition education, and supplemental food.

Neurologic Impairment in Children Associated with Maternal Dietary Deficiency of Cobalamin - Georgia, 2001
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5204a1.htm
PDF
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5204.pdf
This report summarizes the two cases of cobalamin (vitamin B12) deficiency and provides guidance for health-care providers on identifying and preventing cobalamin deficiency among breastfed infants of vegetarian mothers.

Hepatic Toxicity Possibly Associated with Kava-Containing Products - United States, Germany, and Switzerland, 1999-2002
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5147a1.htm
PDF
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5147.pdf
This report presents the investigation of the two U.S. cases of liver failure associated with kava-containing dietary supplement products and summarizes the European cases. In the United States, kava-containing products are sold as dietary supplements and marketed for the treatment of anxiety, occasional insomnia, premenstrual syndrome, and stress. Since 1999, health-care professionals in Germany, Switzerland, and the United States have reported the occurrence of severe hepatic toxicity possibly associated with the consumption of products containing kava (i.e., kava kava or Piper methysticum). Eight females and two males who used kava products had liver failure and underwent subsequent liver transplantation. On March 25, 2002, in response to five such case reports (four in Europe and one in the United States), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a consumer advisory and subsequently completed an investigation already underway of a similar U.S. case. FDA continues to advise consumers and health-care providers about the potential risk associated with the use of kava-containing products.

International Micronutrient Malnutrition Prevention and Control Program (IMMPaCt)
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/immpact/
Through IMMPaCt, CDC contributes its skills and resources to the global effort to eliminate micronutrient malnutrition. Micronutrient malnutrition is a shortage of one or more vitamins or minerals. These deficiencies negatively affect: child survival and growth, women's health and pregnancy outcomes, brain development and I.Q. of a population, educational achievement, adult productivity, and resistance to illness.

Iron Deficiency - United States, 1999-2000
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5140a1.htm
PDF
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5140.pdf
To characterize the iron status of persons in the United States, CDC calculated the prevalence of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia by applying a multiple-indicator model to data from the 1999-2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 1999-2000). These values were compared with those observed in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III [1988-1994]) using the same multiple-indicator model. This report summarizes the results of this analysis, which indicate that iron deficiency remains 2-5 percentage points above the 2010 national health objectives. The estimated prevalence of iron deficiency was greatest among toddlers aged 1-2 years (7%) and adolescent and adult females aged 12-49 years (9%-16%). The prevalence of iron deficiency was approximately two times higher among non-Hispanic black and Mexican-American females (19%-22%) than among non-Hispanic white females (10%). To prevent iron deficiency, vulnerable populations should be encouraged to eat iron-rich foods and breast-feed or use iron-fortified formula for infants.

Use of Dietary Supplements
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/databriefs/dietary.pdf
Use of dietary supplements in the United States appears to be growing, including the use of herbal medicines. Approximately 40 percent of the population 2 months of age and older were taking a vitamin, mineral, or other type of dietary supplement during the month prior to being interviewed in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Females were more likely to take supplements than males (44 percent of females versus 35 percent of males). Supplement use ranged from 30 percent for males in their 20s to 42 percent for males 80 years of age and older, and ranged from 42 percent for females in their 20s to 55 percent for females 80 years of age and older. Some of the reasons people give for taking supplements include: to improve nutrition, to make up for nutrients missing in the food supply, to decrease susceptibility to or severity of disease, or to increase energy or improve performance. Another factor that may contribute to the increased interest in using dietary supplements is scientific evidence linking diets high in certain nutrients with a reduced risk of certain diseases.

Nutrition: Women’s Health Topics A-Z
http://www.cdc.gov/women/az/nutri.htm
View women’s health resources related to nutrition.

5 a Day for Better Health
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/5ADay/
Eat plenty of different fruits and vegetables. Diets rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases. Fruits and vegetables provide essential vitamins and minerals, fiber, and other substances that are important for good health. Most fruits and vegetables are naturally low in fat and calories and are filling. Learn more.

Breastfeeding
http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/
Learn more about breastfeeding.

Nutrition and Physical Activity
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/
Learn more about nutrition and physical activity.

Nutrition Topics
http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/
View a list of links to information on a variety of topics related to nutrition.

Powerful Bones, Powerful Girls
http://www.cdc.gov/powerfulbones/
Learn more about how to take care of your bones.

Powerful Bones, Powerful Girls. Web Site for Parents
http://www.cdc.gov/powerfulbones/parents/
The site has useful information on how to help your daughter develop lifelong bone-healthy habits. For a healthier future, your daughter's bones need your support now.

Pregnancy Nutrition Surveillance System
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/PNSS.htm
The Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System (PedNSS) and the Pregnancy Surveillance System (PNSS) are program-based surveillance systems that monitor the nutritional status of low-income infants, children, and women in federally funded maternal and child health programs.

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes.htm
View data from the national health and nutrition examination survey.

Dietary Guidelines for Americans
http://www.healthierus.gov/dietaryguidelines/ (Non-CDC site)
These guidelines provide authoritative advice for people two years and older about how good dietary habits can promote health and reduce risk for major chronic diseases.

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This page last reviewed July 27, 2007
URL: http://www.cdc.gov/women/pubs/nutri.htm

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