HL Deb 20 November 2003 vol 654 cc346-8WA
Earl Howe

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the most recent Diet and Nutrition Survey was published; what percentage of women aged 35–49 years were found to have daily folic acid intake of less than 400 micrograms; how that level of intake compares to their recommended total daily folic acid intake from:

  1. (a) normal diet; and
  2. (b) supplemental sources for women in that age group; and [HL5535]

What were the findings of the most recent National Diet and Nutrition Survey in relation to the percentage of:

  1. (a) women overall;
  2. (b) women aged 19–24 years; and
  3. (c) women aged 35–49 years;

who had iron intakes below the lower reference nutrient intake; and [HL5536]

What were the findings of the most recent National Diet and Nutrition Survey in relation to the percentage of:

  1. (a) women overall; and
  2. (b) women aged 19–24 years;

who failed to consume the reference nutrient intake for magnesium; and [HL5537]

What proportion of women aged 19–24 were found by the most recent National Diet and Nutrition Survey to be consuming less than the lower reference nutrient intake for:

  1. (a) vitamin A;
  2. (b) vitamin B12;
  3. (c) iron;
  4. (d) manganese;
  5. (e) zinc; and
  6. (f) copper;

and whether those figures represented an improvement or a worsening of the figures found by the previous such survey; and [HL5538]

What is the percentage of children, broken down by gender, who were found by the most recent National Diet and Nutrient Survey to be consuming less than the lower reference nutrient intake for:

  1. (a) calcium;
  2. (b) magnesium; and
  3. (c) vitamin A; and [HL5539]

What is the percentage of elderly people, broken down by gender, who were found by the most recent National Diet and Nutrient Survey to be consuming less than the lower reference nutrient intake for:

  1. (a) calcium;
  2. (b) magnesium; and
  3. (c) vitamin A. [HL5540]

Lord Warner

The most recent National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS), of adults aged 19–64, is being published in five volumes. The first volume was published in December 2002. The second and third volumes were published in July 2003. The fourth and fifth volumes will be published in 2004.

The information requested in these questions is contained in the three volumes of the NDNS of adults already published or in earlier surveys of children aged 4–18 and of older adults aged 65 plus. I am arranging for copies of all these surveys to be placed in the Library.

Compared with figures for women aged 16–24 years in the last survey of adults in 1986–87, the proportions below the lower reference nutrient intake for women aged 19–24 in the most recent survey of adults are higher for vitamin A and iron, lower for vitamin B12 and unchanged for zinc. There are no lower reference nutrient intakes set for manganese or copper.

The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Health Development Agency and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence have access to copies of very low carbohydrate diets revisited by Jeff S Volek and Eric C Westman, published by the Cleveland Clinical Journal of Medicine in November 2002; whether they have any plans to meet with representatives of Atkins Nutritionals Inc to discuss their experiences with such diets; and, if not, why not. [HL5547]

Lord Warner

The Health Development Agency (HDA) and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) have access to all published scientific papers in this area.

The HDA is currently developing guidance on the prevention and treatment of obesity with NICE in accordance with NICE'S open and transparent processes.

The HDA has encouraged all interested parties including Atkins Nutritionals Inc, to register with NICE as a stakeholder so that they can comment during the development of this guidance. They have subsequently done so.