Estimating Dietary Micronutrient Supply by Analyzing a Moderate-Cost Food Basket in Serbia ^†

Abstract

The inadequate intake of essential micronutrients remains a huge public health issue that carries significant social, economic, and health consequences. Although deficiencies in iron, vitamin A, and iodine are well-documented, there is growing recognition of deficiencies in folate, vitamin B12, zinc, calcium, and other micronutrients among disadvantaged populations. A national shopping basket (also known as a food basket or food basket survey) is a list of foods and beverages that represent the typical dietary requirements of a population in a given country. The items in the food basket are chosen based on their frequency of consumption, nutritional value, and availability in the market. This study was designed to assess the intake of certain micronutrients using the food items of a moderate-cost shopping basket in Serbia. The structure of a moderate-cost shopping basket for a family of three in Serbia is published on a monthly basis by the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications. The food list includes 73 food items categorized into nine groups, such as cereals, vegetables, fruits, meats, fish, fats and oils, dairy products, non-alcoholic beverages, and miscellaneous other foods. The food composition database CapNUTRA was used for the calculation of the iron, vitamin A, iodine, folate, and zinc content in all food items in the basket. The monthly quantities, intended for a family of three, of each food item were characterized by their micronutrient contents and the values were summed to derive an estimate of the average intake. When comparing the obtained estimates with the recommended daily intakes, it was noticed that the requirements were met for iron and zinc, but, when it came to vitamin A, the intake was around 20% lower than the recommended value. The iodine and folate intake would be higher than is recommended in the Serbian population, based on such an assessment. The evaluation of nutrient intake using a national shopping basket is one way to estimate the adequacy of a population’s diet and essential nutrient supply. However, it is important to note that this approach has some limitations and may not capture the full complexity of an individual’s dietary intake.