Nutrition data collection in the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial (MRFIT). Baseline nutrient intake of a randomized population.

Selected preliminary baseline nutrient intake data for volunteers participating in the MRFIT study have been presented. Because of the unique selection criteria applied, nutrient intake trends described may not be generalized to the overall population. Nonetheless, present-day trends in this particular group seem to be toward dietary intakes lower in total fat, saturated fat, and dietary cholesterol and higher in polyunsaturated fat than those documented in earlier studies. Thus, utilizing the dietary methodology which has evolved through NHLBI's ongoing program of research investigations, it appears that the health-conscious men randomized into the MRFIT were already consuming diets somewhat more prudent than those in an earlier generation of studies.