Submitted:
04 May 2026
Posted:
05 May 2026
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Abstract
Keywords:
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Design and Participants
2.2. Anthropometric and Energy Expenditure Assessment
2.3. Dietary Assessment
2.4. Nutrient Adequacy Assessment
2.5. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
4. Discussion
4.1. Summary of Main Findings
4.2. Macronutrient Adequacy and Compliance
4.3. Micronutrient Adequacy and Compliance
4.4. Implications for Health Promotion in Young Adults
4.5. Strengths and Limitations
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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| Variable | N | Total | Men (n=47) | Women (n=27) | p | Cohen’s d |
| Age (years) | 74 | 22.65 ± 4.18 | 22.45 ± 3.54 | 23.00 ± 5.16 | 0.293 | -0.13 |
| Height (cm) | 74 | 171.68 ± 8.38 | 175.87 ± 6.16 | 164.37 ± 6.53 | <0.001 | 1.83 |
| Body mass (kg) | 74 | 75.24 ± 14.54 | 77.21 ± 12.55 | 71.81 ± 17.21 | 0.063 | 0.38 |
| BMI (kg·m⁻²) | 74 | 25.61 ± 5.42 | 24.95 ± 3.73 | 26.76 ± 7.46 | 0.084 | -0.34 |
| Total energy expenditure (kcal·day⁻¹) | 74 | 2361.12 ± 411.25 | 2536.40 ± 359.53 | 2056.00 ± 306.49 | <0.001 | 1.41 |
| Resting metabolic rate (kcal·day⁻¹) | 74 | 1841.44 ± 310.97 | 1987.59 ± 253.08 | 1587.04 ± 228.86 | <0.001 | 1.64 |
| Energy balance (kcal·day⁻¹) | 73 | 146.63 ± 695.25 | 174.78 ± 716.89 | 98.67 ± 667.31 | 0.327 | 0.11 |
| Variable | N | Total | Men (n=47) | Women (n=27) | p | Cohen’s d |
| NAR – Carbohydrates (g) | 74 | 81.57 ± 28.06 | 81.48 ± 25.13 | 81.74 ± 33.05 | 0.485 | -0.01 |
| NAR – Starch (g) | 74 | 49.46 ± 17.72 | 49.49 ± 16.69 | 49.39 ± 19.72 | 0.492 | 0.01 |
| NAR – Simple sugars (g) | 74 | 169.05 ± 83.17 | 166.76 ± 65.29 | 173.02 ± 108.88 | 0.394 | -0.08 |
| NAR – Total lipids (g) | 74 | 162.40 ± 61.60 | 162.16 ± 62.67 | 162.82 ± 60.86 | 0.482 | -0.01 |
| NAR – Saturated fatty acids (g) | 74 | 144.08 ± 57.17 | 139.93 ± 49.01 | 151.31 ± 69.58 | 0.229 | -0.20 |
| NAR – Monounsaturated fatty acids (g) | 74 | 38.88 ± 14.55 | 37.54 ± 13.81 | 41.22 ± 15.74 | 0.164 | -0.25 |
| NAR – Polyunsaturated fatty acids (g) | 74 | 12.14 ± 5.26 | 11.84 ± 4.96 | 12.67 ± 5.75 | 0.277 | -0.15 |
| NAR – Proteins (g) | 74 | 113.90 ± 31.60 | 114.38 ± 31.55 | 113.08 ± 32.27 | 0.434 | 0.04 |
| NAR – Total fiber (g) | 74 | 21.69 ± 8.88 | 20.65 ± 6.92 | 23.44 ± 11.47 | 0.104 | -0.30 |
| NAR – Water (g) | 74 | 95.42 ± 28.92 | 92.79 ± 30.90 | 100.01 ± 24.98 | 0.139 | -0.25 |
| Variable | n | Total | Men (n=47) | Women (n=27) | p | Cohen’s d |
| NAR – Calcium (mg) | 74 | 1261.20 ± 489.01 | 1225.17 ± 485.01 | 1322.15 ± 499.92 | 0.230 | -0.20 |
| NAR – Iron (mg) | 74 | 16.78 ± 5.08 | 16.32 ± 4.78 | 17.55 ± 5.56 | 0.202 | -0.24 |
| NAR – Magnesium (mg) | 74 | 418.92 ± 153.88 | 416.71 ± 144.62 | 422.85 ± 170.34 | 0.434 | -0.04 |
| NAR – Zinc (mg) | 74 | 10.94 ± 3.58 | 10.77 ± 3.20 | 11.23 ± 4.16 | 0.353 | -0.12 |
| NAR – Potassium (mg) | 74 | 3736.95 ± 1235.24 | 3741.91 ± 1212.74 | 3728.07 ± 1290.01 | 0.486 | 0.01 |
| NAR – Sodium (mg) | 74 | 2961.20 ± 1240.67 | 2924.45 ± 1173.35 | 3025.52 ± 1368.92 | 0.370 | -0.08 |
| NAR – Selenium (µg) | 74 | 96.77 ± 34.80 | 95.70 ± 35.66 | 98.62 ± 33.69 | 0.397 | -0.08 |
| NAR – Vitamin A (µg) | 74 | 1135.51 ± 513.77 | 1152.14 ± 529.62 | 1107.05 ± 492.10 | 0.394 | 0.09 |
| NAR – Vitamin D (µg) | 74 | 4.17 ± 2.25 | 3.87 ± 2.01 | 4.69 ± 2.51 | 0.050 | -0.36 |
| NAR – Vitamin E (mg) | 74 | 13.61 ± 4.62 | 13.68 ± 4.30 | 13.48 ± 5.17 | 0.452 | 0.04 |
| NAR – Vitamin C (mg) | 74 | 152.57 ± 91.98 | 146.21 ± 84.96 | 163.76 ± 103.53 | 0.262 | -0.18 |
| NAR – Vitamin B1 (mg) | 74 | 2.11 ± 0.62 | 2.08 ± 0.57 | 2.16 ± 0.70 | 0.378 | -0.12 |
| NAR – Vitamin B2 (mg) | 74 | 2.21 ± 0.74 | 2.18 ± 0.68 | 2.27 ± 0.84 | 0.391 | -0.12 |
| NAR – Vitamin B3 (mg) | 74 | 25.21 ± 8.62 | 25.37 ± 7.89 | 24.99 ± 9.86 | 0.436 | 0.05 |
| NAR – Vitamin B6 (mg) | 74 | 2.72 ± 0.95 | 2.71 ± 0.94 | 2.73 ± 0.98 | 0.483 | -0.02 |
| NAR – Vitamin B9 (µg) | 74 | 388.80 ± 144.91 | 377.80 ± 129.70 | 407.94 ± 169.99 | 0.238 | -0.20 |
| NAR – Vitamin B12 (µg) | 74 | 5.06 ± 2.80 | 5.11 ± 2.58 | 4.99 ± 3.16 | 0.454 | 0.04 |
| Variable | % Meeting recommendations | N | Mean adequacy (%) | SD |
| Water | 44.6 | 33 | 43.6 | 22.7 |
| Carbohydrates | 21.6 | 16 | 14.4 | 14.9 |
| Starch | 0.0 | 0 | 19.7 | 22.3 |
| Simple sugars | 82.4 | 61 | 92.8 | 24.7 |
| Proteins | 63.5 | 47 | 71.6 | 6.5 |
| Total lipids | 94.6 | 70 | 97.3 | 10.6 |
| Saturated fatty acids | 82.4 | 61 | 82.8 | 20.4 |
| Monounsaturated fatty acids | 98.6 | 73 | 118.8 | 12.1 |
| Polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-6) | 6.8 | 5 | 19.2 | 5.6 |
| Polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3) | 1.4 | 1 | 8.1 | 17.7 |
| Total fiber | 50.0 | 37 | 43.5 | 19.6 |
| Variable | % Meeting recommendations | N | Mean adequacy (%) | SD |
| Calcium | 36.5 | 27 | 41.4 | 20.2 |
| Iron | 74.3 | 55 | 62.1 | 19.1 |
| Magnesium | 39.2 | 29 | 30.9 | 5.5 |
| Zinc | 63.5 | 47 | 69.2 | 11.6 |
| Potassium | 28.4 | 21 | 35.4 | 7.2 |
| Sodium | 87.8 | 65 | 100.5 | 21.0 |
| Selenium | 90.5 | 67 | 111.3 | 7.8 |
| Vitamin A | 50.0 | 37 | 58.8 | 17.8 |
| Vitamin D | 9.5 | 7 | 10.4 | 7.3 |
| Vitamin E | 32.4 | 24 | 26.8 | 16.2 |
| Vitamin C | 50.0 | 37 | 43.5 | 19.6 |
| Vitamin B1 | 91.9 | 68 | 94.6 | 15.9 |
| Vitamin B2 | 60.8 | 45 | 51.6 | 6.3 |
| Vitamin B3 | 100.0 | 74 | 110.0 | 12.8 |
| Vitamin B6 | 81.1 | 60 | 81.4 | 9.0 |
| Vitamin B9 (folate) | 23.0 | 17 | 36.2 | 20.4 |
| Vitamin B12 | 81.1 | 60 | 88.5 | 5.1 |
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