The relative contribution of specific foods and food
groups to total nutrient intakes has been studied since
the early eighties, when a new concept of ‘important’
nutrient sources was introduced in addition to the concept
of ‘rich’ nutrient sources [5]. Whereas rich sources
were foods with the greatest concentration of a nutrient,
important sources were foods that contributed most to
a population’s intake. Important sources of nutrients
can be strongly influenced by ‘nutrient density’ of the
food, its ‘frequency of consumption’ and the quantity
consumed. Knowledge of such sources, combined with
* Correspondence: willem.dekeyzer@hogent.be
1Department of Nutrition and dietetics, University College Ghent, Gent,
Belgium
Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
De Keyzer et al. Archives of Public Health 2011, 69:5
http://www.archpublichealth.com/content/69/1/5 ARCHIVES OF PUBLIC HEALTH
© 2011