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. 2022 Jan 13:8:748847.
doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.748847. eCollection 2021.

United States Dietary Trends Since 1800: Lack of Association Between Saturated Fatty Acid Consumption and Non-communicable Diseases

Joyce H Lee  1   2 , Miranda Duster  1 , Timothy Roberts  3 , Orrin Devinsky  1
Affiliations

United States Dietary Trends Since 1800: Lack of Association Between Saturated Fatty Acid Consumption and Non-communicable Diseases

Joyce H Lee et al. Front Nutr. .

Abstract

We reviewed data on the American diet from 1800 to 2019. Methods: We examined food availability and estimated consumption data from 1800 to 2019 using historical sources from the federal government and additional public data sources. Results: Processed and ultra-processed foods increased from <5 to >60% of foods. Large increases occurred for sugar, white and whole wheat flour, rice, poultry, eggs, vegetable oils, dairy products, and fresh vegetables. Saturated fats from animal sources declined while polyunsaturated fats from vegetable oils rose. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) rose over the twentieth century in parallel with increased consumption of processed foods, including sugar, refined flour and rice, and vegetable oils. Saturated fats from animal sources were inversely correlated with the prevalence of NCDs. Conclusions: As observed from the food availability data, processed and ultra-processed foods dramatically increased over the past two centuries, especially sugar, white flour, white rice, vegetable oils, and ready-to-eat meals. These changes paralleled the rising incidence of NCDs, while animal fat consumption was inversely correlated.

Keywords: diabetes; non-communicable diseases (NCDs); nutrients; obesity; processed foods.

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Conflict of interest statement

OD receives grant support from NINDS, NIMH, MURI, CDC, and NSF. He has equity and/or compensation from the following: Tilray, Receptor Life Sciences, Qstate Biosciences, Tevard, Empatica, Engage, Rettco, SilverSpike, and California Cannabis Enterprises (CCE). He has received consulting fees from BridgeBio, Xenon, Zogenix, and Marinus. He holds patents for the use of cannabidiol in treating neurological disorders but these are owned by GW Pharmaceuticals and he has waived any financial stake in these patents. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Annual total caloric and macronutrient availability per capita from 1909 to 2010 (Source: USDA ERS).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Annual fats availability per capita from 1909 to 2010 (Source: USDA ERS).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Annual total caloric availability per capita, adjusted for food loss, from 1970 to 2010 (Source: USDA ERS).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Annual red meat, poultry, and fish and shellfish availability per capita from 1909 to 2019 (Source: USDA ERS).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Annual added fats and oils availability per capita from 1909 to 2019 (Source: USDA ERS).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Annual animal-based versus plant-based added fats and oils availability per capita from 1909 to 2010 (Source: USDA ERS).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Fat subclasses of various animal- and plant-based fats and oils (Source: USDA Food Central Data).
Figure 8
Figure 8
Beverage (Coffee, Tea, Fruit Juices) availability from 1909 to 2017 in the United States of America (Source: USDA ERS).
Figure 9
Figure 9
Annual total alcoholic beverage consumption per capita from 1850 to 2019 (Source: NIAAA). The gap in data is due to Prohibition from 1920 to 1933.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Annual caloric sweetener availability per capita from 1909 to 2010 in the United States of America (Source: USDA ERS).
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