Impact of updated standard tables of food composition on nutrient intakes in Japan

This study aimed to identify the influence of revisions to the food composition database in Japan, on nutrient intake estimates using one-day food intake data from 26,133 participants of the National Health and Nutrition Survey, 2016. The nutrient profiles of food intakes were developed using two editions of the Japanese Standard Food Composition Tables (2010 and 2015 editions), and differences resulting from their revision were examined. The difference in the mean daily energy intake value (2015 edition - 2010 edition) was 80 kJ (19 kcal)/person. Of the 1604 food items reported in the survey, 591 displayed differences in terms of the nutrient values at the population level. Regarding food groups, meat was the most substantial contributor to differences in the energy intake values, producing a difference of 70 kJ (17 kcal)/day/person. For the 29 nutrients reported in the survey, the differences in the nutrient intake values between the two databases ranged from - 5.3% (vitamin D) to +10.5% (magnesium). The influence of the revisions to the food composition database differed by each nutrient, predominantly because of the sources. To evaluate nutrient intake trends in the national survey series, future longitudinal studies are needed.