[Dietary intake in the urban and rural populations of the Cap-Bon].

BACKGROUND

An assessment of nutriment intake (protein, carbohydrates, fat) was collected from a baseline survey of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases from the urban and rural population of the North East of Tunisia (Cap-Bon).

METHODS

692 men and women, 35-50-year-old, were examined. The sample was randomly selected on the basis of the 1984 census from the population of Cap-Bon. A standardized 24-hour recall and a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire were used.

RESULTS

The amount of food consumed differed between men and women (expressed in absolute value), but no significant difference was shown between men and women when food intake was expressed in relative value (contribution to total energy intake). The living area (urban, rural) appears to be an important factor influencing nutritional intake.

CONCLUSION

In the urban population, the increase of protein and fat intake (saturated fat and dietary cholesterol) and the decrease of carbohydrates and fiber intake schematize the trend of dietary habits in Tunisia.