[Nutritional assessment and phytoestrogen exposure in a diet of students of the University of Costa Rica].

Introduction: this study presents the results regarding diet and an analysis of natural estrogens (phytoestrogens) intake and how they affect other important aspects, which can modulate biological health functions among university students. Objectives: assessing nutritional habits and estimating the intake of phytoestrogens in the population under study. Materials and methods: Costa Rican female (n: 211, 18.83 ± 2.06 years) and male (n: 199, 19.64 ± 3.05 years) university population of the University of Costa Rica applied anthropometric tests using DEXA, the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and the 24-hour Reminder (R-24). Results: the most serious nutritional bad habits were high ingestion of sodium, lipids and animal origin proteins in men and women and a deficit of fiber and folic acid in women. The total intake of phytoestrogens referred to: daidzein 0.23 ± 0.40 mg/day and 7.01 ± 11.94 mg/month in women and 0.17 ± 0.13 mg/day and 5.14 ± 3.96 mg/month in men; mainly consumed in the form of lignans 0.24 ± 0.12 mg/day (women) and 0.23 ± 0.14 mg/day (men). The intake of isoflavones was 0.09 ± 0.38 mg/day (women) and 0.04 ± 0.08 mg/day (men). Conclusions: The study population presented high fat percentage although the consumption of vegetables, cereals, whole grains and fruits tends slightly to be a Mediterranean diet; their food pattern was much closer to the Western diet.