Differences in energy and selected macronutrients intake with diet between men and women from urban and rural areas of the Lower Silesia in Poland: the Polish arm of the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study

Introduction: Adherence to dietary recommendations is an important approach for primary prevention of non-communicable diseases. The aim of the study was to compare energy and selected macronutrients intake with diet between men and women from urban and rural areas who participated in the Polish arm of the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study, and to identify the proportion of individuals who did not meet dietary recommendations.

Material and methods: The study participants consisted of 1272 women and 753 men, aged 35-70 years from urban (n = 1200) and rural (n = 825) areas of Lower Silesian Voivodeship. Participants’ habitual food intake was recorded using country-specific food frequency questionnaire (FFQ).

Results: Estimated daily energy intake was higher for men than women (2121 vs. 2074 kcal, p < 0.05). Percentage energy provided by carbohydrates was 48%, by fats was 32%, and by protein was 15%. The average energy intake from saturated fatty acids (SFA) was 12.4%, from monounsaturated 10.9%, while from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) 5.0%, and the P/S ratio was 0.44. In the diets of 75% participants, the percentage energy provided by SFA was above 10%. About 1/3 of participants did not meet the recommended amount of fiber. The urban participants consumed less energy, fat and protein, but more carbohydrates than their rural counterpart.

Conclusions: The diets that were closer to recommendations were observed among women and people residing urban areas compared to men and people residing rural areas. The studied diets were characterised by excessive percentage of energy from SFA and too low from PUFA.