Whole grain intake of Australians estimated from a cross-sectional analysis of dietary intake data from the 2011–13 Australian Health Survey

Objective: The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend Australians choose

mostly whole-grain and/or high-fibre varieties within the grains (cereal) foods

category, with other groups specifying a whole grain Daily Target Intake of 48 g

for Australians aged 9 years or above. The USA and UK report estimates of whole

grain intake that are low and declining, and no comprehensive studies on whole

grain intake in the Australian population are available. The present study aimed to

determine national estimates of whole grain intake, compared with current

recommendations.

Design: A recently updated whole grain database was applied to the most

current population dietary intake data. Single 24 h dietary recall intake data were

reviewed against age group, sex, relative to energy intake and whole grain

recommendations.

Setting: Australia.

Subjects: Australians (2–85 years) participating in the 2011–13 Australian Health

Survey (n 12 153).

Results: The median daily whole grain intake was 21 g for adults (19–85 years)

and 17 g for children/adolescents (2–18 years), or 28 and 23 g/10 MJ per d,

respectively. Approximately 30% of children/adolescents consumed no whole

grains on the day of the survey. Whole grain intake was lowest for the age group

14–18 years (8·7 g/d). Of all participants aged ≥9 years, 73% did not reach the

recommended Daily Target Intake of 48 g.

Conclusions: Whole grain intake in Australia is below recommendations in all age

groups. Adolescents may be a key target for campaigns to increase whole grain

consumption. This study provides the first quantification of absolute whole grain

intake from all food sources in a national sample of Australians.