Backgrounds/Aims: To investigate dietary habits and their evolution with regard to cardiovascular risk status in Spain. Methods: Cross-sectional study performed in two phases in 1991 and 1996 in 43 primary care clinics. One thousand and two hundred people classified as ‘with cardiovascular risk’ and 600 ‘without risk’ were studied. Each participant answered a food frequency questionnaire. Results: The risk group did not change oil, cereals and dairy products consumption, decreased egg, legume and meat, and increased fish, fruits and vegetables intake. The control group differed in increasing dairy products and not decreasing eggs and vegetables consumption. A small decrease in energy intake happened, from 11,315.1 to 10,941.5 kJ in the risk group (p < 0.05). Carbohydrates intake showed a not statistically significant falling trend from 41.3 to 40.6% in people at risk and 41.8 to 40.7% in those without risk. Protein intake increased in both groups up to 16.5% and fat consumption kept at around 42.9% in both groups. The decrease in saturated fat and increase in polyunsaturated fat were statistically significant in people at risk (p = 0.000). High cholesterol intakes were found. Conclusion: People with cardiovascular problems changed their dietary habits in a ‘healthier’ way than people without risk.

Objective: To evaluate the dietary micronutrient intake in the adult Spanish population participating in the DRECE study. Methods: The cross-sectional study was performed in two stages in 1991 and 1996 in 43 primary care clinics. One thousand two hundred people ‘with cardiovascular risk’ and 600 ‘without risk’ answered a food frequency questionnaire. Results: Significant increases in vitamin C, retinol, lycopenes, β-cryptoxanthin and vitamin E intakes were found. Vitamin A, α-carotenoid and lutein intakes decreased. Vitamin B₁₂, B₆ and folic acid intakes increased in people with cardiovascular risk, whereas only the last two increased in the control group. Nearly 100% of the people consumed the recommended dietary allowances for vitamins B₁₂ and B₆ and >70% for folic acid. Calcium, iron, and zinc intake increased in both groups, but magnesium and selenium intake increased only in people at risk. Vitamin A, B₁ and zinc intakes have decreased, and >50% of the people do not consume the recommended dietary allowance. Conclusion: Antioxidant vitamins and vitamin B₁₂, B₆ and folic acid intakes seem to be adequate in the adult Spanish population, no significant differences appear regarding their cardiovascular risk status. Vitamin A, B₁ and zinc intakes are not appropriate.

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