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Trends in energy and nutrient supply in Trinidad and Tobago from 1961 to 2007 using FAO food balance sheets

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 January 2013

Tony Sheehy*
Affiliation:
School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Republic of Ireland
Sangita Sharma
Affiliation:
Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
*
*Corresponding author: Email t.sheehy@ucc.ie
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Abstract

Objective

Trinidad and Tobago has experienced an epidemiological transition over recent decades characterised by reduced rates of communicable diseases but rapidly increasing rates of obesity and non-communicable chronic diseases. The objective of the present study was to investigate the changes in energy and nutrient supply that have taken place in Trinidad and Tobago between 1961 and 2007.

Design

Food balance sheets for each year between 1961 and 2007 were downloaded from the FAOSTAT database and daily per capita supply for seventeen food commodity groupings was calculated. After appropriate coding, energy and nutrient supply were determined using dietary analysis software.

Setting

FAO food balance sheets for Trinidad and Tobago from 1961 to 2007.

Subjects

None.

Results

The food supply in 2007 provided an extra 1561 kJ (373 kcal)/capita per d than it did in 1961. Energy from carbohydrate as a percentage of total energy fell from 62 % in 1961 to 57 % in 2007, whereas energy from fat as a percentage of total energy increased from 26 % to over 30 % and now lies at the upper end of WHO recommendations. Sugars increased from 20 % to over 26 % of total energy and are well above WHO recommendations. When expressed on a nutrient density basis, supplies of vitamin A, folate and Ca are lower than WHO recommendations.

Conclusions

Nutritional imbalances in the Trinidadian food supply need to be addressed to combat the rise in nutrition-related chronic disease that is projected to cause increased disability and premature death in the country in the coming years.

Information

Type
HOT TOPIC – Nutrition in low and middle income countries
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2013 
Figure 0

Fig. 1 Relationship between FAO food balance sheet estimates and our calculated values for (a) energy ($$$$) and (b) protein ($$$$) and fat ($$$$) supply in Trinidad and Tobago. Regression equations: y = 0·9435x + 1484·7, R2 = 0·976 for energy; y = 1·1347x + 14·078, R2 = 0·952 for protein; y = 0·8773x + 25·423, R2 = 0·910 for fat

Figure 1

Fig. 2 Food balance sheet estimates ($$$$) and our calculated values ($$$$) for (a) energy (kJ/capita per d), (b) fat (g/capita per d) and (c) protein (g/capita per d) supply in Trinidad and Tobago between 1961 and 2007

Figure 2

Fig. 3 Contributions of carbohydrate ($$$$), fat ($$$$), protein ($$$$) and alcohol ($$$$) to energy supply (%) in Trinidad and Tobago between 1961 and 2007

Figure 3

Fig. 4 Trends in starch ($$$$), sugars ($$$$) and fibre (NSP; $$$$) supply (g/capita per d) in Trinidad and Tobago between 1961 and 2007

Figure 4

Fig. 5 (a) Contributions of SFA ($$$$), MUFA ($$$$) and PUFA ($$$$) to energy supply (% of energy) and (b) relationship between polyunsaturated:saturated (P:S) ratio of the food supply ($$$$) and supply of soyabean oil (g/capita per d; $$$$) in Trinidad and Tobago between 1961 and 2007

Figure 5

Fig. 6 Per capita supply of iron ($$$$), vitamin A ($$$$), folate ($$$$) and calcium ($$$$) (expressed as percentage of WHO recommendations for adults aged 19–50 years per 10 MJ energy) in Trinidad and Tobago between 1961 and 2007

Figure 6

Fig. 7 Top three sources of (a) protein, (b) fat and (c) carbohydrate (g/capita per d) in Trinidad and Tobago between 1961 and 2007 ($$$$, wheat; $$$$, milk; $$$$, poultry meat; $$$$,coconut oil; $$$$, soyabean oil; $$$$, sugar; ×, rice)