Macronutrient Intake

The mean macronutrient intakes of the U.S. population ages 2 years and over and for specific age and gender groups are in table 1. Overall, about half the day’s total energy came from carbohydrate, about one-third from total fat, and about one-sixth from protein. The percent total energy from carbohydrate ranged from 49 percent to 56 percent among the six groups. However, children 11-19 years of age obtained a much higher percent of energy from added sugars than adults (21% vs.16%). Individuals 18 years of age and older should keep total fat intakes between 20 percent and 35 percent, children 4 to 18 years of age between 25 percent and 35 percent, and children 2 to 3 years of age between 30 percent and 35 percent of total energy [1,2,7].


The mean percentage of total energy from total fat was within the dietary recommendation, but the mean percentage of total energy from saturated exceeded the recommended 10 percent for all six groups analyzed. The recommended Adequate Intake (AI) for fiber is 14 grams per 1,000 kilocalories [1,7]. The mean dietary fiber intakes were below half the recommended level for all age groups. In order to assess the changes, if any, in energy and macronutrient intakes from the mid1990s, an analysis of U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals conducted in1994-1996 and the Supplemental Children’s Survey conducted in 1998 (CSFII 1994-1996, 1998) [8-10] was carried out. Energy and macronutrient intakes reported in the NHANES and the CSFII were compared.

The energy increase was not appreciable in children 2-11 years (about 40-60 kilocalories more in NHANES). However, a notable increase in the energy intake was observed between the adults in the two surveys. In the CSFII, males 20 years and over reported 2,456 kilocalories intake and females 20 years and over reported 1,647 kilocalories intakes. It should be noted that the observed increase of 136 kilocalories for men and 184 kilocalories for women could be due to a combination of true increase in the energy intake between the two survey periods and due the differences in the survey methodology. The U.S. daily average added sugars consumption increased from 82 grams in the CSFII to 92 grams in the NHANES. Increase in added sugar intakes were seen across all age groups. However, while there were differences in energy intakes, the percentages of total energy from carbohydrate, total fat, and protein were similar in both surveys, for the six age-gender groups, implying that the mean energy increase resulted from proportional increase in carbohydrate, total fat, and protein.

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