SFA intake among Japanese schoolchildren: current status and possible intervention to prevent excess intake

Objective: Although a high intake of fat, particularly SFA, is a well-known risk factor for CVD, fat intake in Japan has attracted relatively little attention from health professionals to date due to the low intake in the Japanese population. However, recent surveys have shown an increase in fat intake in younger Japanese populations. Here, we described the fat intake and dietary sources of SFA in Japanese schoolchildren. Also, we experimentally exchanged a high-SFA food with a low-SFA substitute in the data, and calculated the resulting changes in nutrient intakes. Design: The study was conducted nationwide under a cross-sectional design. A non-consecutive, three-day diet record was performed on two school days and a non-school day. Setting: Fourteen elementary and thirteen junior high schools. Subjects: Elementary-school children (n 629) and junior high-school children (n 281). Results: Prevalence of excess fat intake was 35.4 % in boys and 45.0 % in girls. Excess SFA intake was suspected in 97.7 % of boys and 99.4 % of girls when the dietary reference intake values for adults were applied. Major dietary sources of SFA were meat (26.4 % of total SFA intake), dairy products (25.7 %) and confectioneries (11.3 %). Conclusions: Since one-third to nearly one-half of our Japanese schoolchildren consumed excess fat, careful monitoring of fat intake in the Japanese population should be continued. Adoption of low-fat milk and/or lean meat in daily meals might be a suitable means of reducing fat, particularly SFA intake, in schoolchildren.