(P14-026-23) Watermelon Intake Is Associated With Increased Nutrient Intake and Higher Diet Quality in Adults, NHANES 2003–2018

Objectives: To determine if adult watermelon consumers have higher nutrient intake and diet quality as compared to non-consumers.

Methods: Data from adults (19+ y: 17,226 males/17,900 females) who participated in the NHANES cycles 2003-2018 were utilized in the current study. Nutrient intake was from total nutrient files which uses WWEIA dietary records with the FNDDS. Diet quality was measured with the HEI-2015 which assesses the level of adherence to DGA recommendations. Regression analyses were used to assess differences in watermelon consumer and non-consumers.

Results: Adult watermelon consumers had > 5% higher intake of dietary fiber (18 ± 0.4 vs 17 ± 0.1 g), magnesium (324 ± 5.1 vs 302 ± 1.4 mg), potassium (3005 ± 43 vs 2691 ± 10 mg), and vitamin A (723 ± 30 vs 631 ± 6.6 RE), > 5% lower intake of added sugars (16 ± 0.6 vs 18 ± 0.2 tsp eq) and total saturated fatty acids (SFA; 25 ± 0.5 vs 27 ± 0.1 g) as well as higher intake of lycopene (18,463 ± 1009 vs 5186 ± 90 mcg) and other carotenoids. Total diet quality (58 ± 0.6 vs 50 ± 0.2 points) and several subcomponent scores were higher among adult watermelon consumers as compared to non-consumers including total vegetables (3.4 ± 0.1 vs 3.1 ± 0.02 pts), total fruit (4.3 ± 0.1 vs 2.0 ± 0.02 pts), whole fruit (4.5 ± 0.04 vs 2.0 ± 0.03 pts), fatty acid ratio (5.3 ± 0.2 vs 5.0 ± 0.04 pt), SFA (6.6 ± 0.2 vs 5.9 ± 0.03 pts), and added sugar (7.1 ± 0.2 vs 6.5 ± 0.04 pts). Diet quality of younger adults (19-50 y) showed larger increases within watermelon consumers as compared to older adults (51+ y), with additional subcomponents showing significant differences including total vegetables, greens and beans, fatty acid ratio, and refined grains. Differences were observed in several subcomponents between males and females including whole grains, saturated fat, added sugars, and total vegetables.

Conclusions: In adults, watermelon consumption is associated with higher diet quality scores and intake of several important nutrients as compared to non-consumers with differences observed in diet quality between age and gender groups. This study suggests watermelon may help improve nutrient intake as well as diet quality in the total adult population.

Funding Sources: National Watermelon Promotion Board