2020 Volume 78 Issue Supplement Pages S27-S38
Objective: In the dietary survey of the National Nutrition Survey (NNS) and National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHNS), which has been conducted for more than 70 years, the reference weight of food portion is indispensable for accurately assessing the dietary intake. Thus, we summarized the history of the food composition table and the food number lists focusing on the reference weight of food portion, and the latest revision of the reference weight of food portion.
Methods: We reviewed the articles, laws, and the report of the results and webpages of NNS and NHNS. Additionally, we outlined the chronological flow of determining the latest reference weight of food portion.
Results: The Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan have been used for nutrient intake calculation for NNS (1945 to 2002) and NHNS (2003~). In accordance with the revision of the Standard Tables of Food Composition in 2000, the food number lists used in the NNS were significantly revised, and the reference weight of food portion lists were added. The number of the foods listed as the reference weight of food portion has been increasing with each revision, as 440 were indicated as the reference weight of food portion in 2019's latest revision. Additionally, it was decided that the reference weight of food portion is indicated as a wide range.
Conclusions: It is important to provide a reference weight of food portion to assess dietary intake in a nationwide dietary survey and necessary to regularly revise the reference weight of food portion.
