Sex ratio of total energy intake in adults: an analysis of dietary surveys.

OBJECTIVE

The ratio of the total energy intake (TEI) reported by men and women in the same dietary survey varies considerably among dietary surveys. The purpose of our study was to investigate the potential value of the sex ratio of TEI as a measure of misreporting dietary intake by comparing it with the sex ratio of biomarkers such as the 24 h urinary excretion of sodium, potassium and total nitrogen.

METHODS

The sex ratio (m/f) of TEI in adults was calculated from 81 dietary surveys performed in 28 countries. The surveys were conducted in healthy and free-living populations, using the same methodology in both sexes.

RESULTS

A mean sex ratio of 1.35 (s.d., 0.13) and 1.33 (s.d., 0.10) was obtained at the individual survey level and at the country level, respectively. The sex ratio of 1.40 in the younger age class (< or = 60/64 y) was significantly higher than the sex ratio of 1.27 in the older age class (> 60/64y) (P < 0.0001). The dietary assessment methodology also influenced the sex ratio (P = 0.03). Compared with the INTERSALT study, the sex ratio of TEI was higher than the sex ratios of the 24 h urinary sodium (1.23), potassium (1.20) and total nitrogen (1.25), biomarkers of dietary sodium, potassium and protein intake. Therefore the dietary survey data indicate a mean TEI of 10 476 kJ/d for men and 7784 kJ/d for women, which gives a mean sex difference of 2692 kJ/d. However if the biomarker sex ratio of 1.23, mean sex ratio of the 24 h urinary sodium, potassium and total nitrogen, is correct and the TEI of men is correctly assessed at 10476kJ/d, the TEI of women should be 8517kJ/d, a difference of only 1959 kJ/d.

CONCLUSIONS

Calculated from dietary surveys, the mean sex ratio of TEI is 1.35. This sex ratio decreases with age and depends on the dietary assessment methods used. In many dietary surveys, the sex ratio of TEI is likely overestimated.