Estimated Intakes of Trans Fatty and Other Fatty Acids in the US Population

Objective: To estimate mean level of trans fatty acid intakes using a representative sample of the US population.

Design: The study used food intake data from the 1989-1991 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII) and the trans fatty acid contents of specific foods calculated from a database compiled by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to estimate the mean level and deciles of trans fatty acid intake of the representative US population.

Subjects/setting: Trans fatty acid intakes were estimated for each subject (N = 11,258) in the CSFII data who completed both a 24-hour recall and a 2-day food record.

Statistical Analyses Performed: Weights developed by USDA for the survey were used for all data analyses. The Technical Assessment Systems (TAS) International Diet Research System (TAS-DIET), software developed by TAS, was used to derive weighted estimates of the mean and percentiles of the intake distribution. PC CARP, software designed by Iowa State University, was used to estimate standard errors.

Results: Mean percentage of energy ingested as trans fatty acids was 2.6% and the mean percentage of total fat ingested as trans fatty acids was 7.4%. Across all age and gender groups examined, estimates ranged from 2.6% to 2.8% and 7.1% to 7.9%, respectively.

Applications/conclusions: Dietetics practitioners can use the representative data of this study to help clients achieve desired changes in consumption levels of trans fatty acids.