Yeast extract spreads and nutrient intake in Australians
What it found
People who ate yeast extract spreads took in more B vitamins but also more sodium.
This was found in a survey of 12,153 Australians.
What they found
Studies in people
B vitamin intake
Among the heaviest consumers, yeast extract spreads provided between 30.7% and 67.6% of daily B vitamins like thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and folate. Even light users got up to 30.1% of these vitamins from the spread.
Sodium intake
People who ate yeast extract spreads or tomato sauces had a median sodium intake of about 2414 mg per day. Those who did not eat them had a median of 1973 mg per day. The Australian suggested target is 2000 mg per day.
Meeting nutrient targets
More men and women met their daily targets for B vitamins when the nutrients from yeast extract spreads were counted. The difference ranged from 0.2% to 3.5% more people meeting targets.
How it is eaten
Breakfast was the most common time to eat yeast extract spreads, at 57.9%. Most people, 77.8%, ate it on bread or baked goods. The typical amount eaten was 5.8 g.
What the authors conclude
- They say that eating yeast extract spreads and tomato sauces is linked to higher intakes of key nutrients like B vitamins.
- They note that these foods also raise sodium intake above recommended levels.
- They suggest that lower sodium versions of these products should be recommended.
How it was done
Australians regularly eat yeast extract spreads and tomato sauces, which can be high in sodium but also contain added vitamins. The authors wanted to see how much these condiments add to daily nutrient intakes.
They looked at food recall data from 12,153 Australians aged 2 years and older. Trained interviewers asked what each person ate and drank over one 24-hour period. They then compared the diets of people who ate yeast extract spreads with those who did not.
What it can’t tell you
- This study only looked at what people ate over a single 24-hour period.
- It cannot show whether eating yeast extract spreads causes better nutrient status over time.
- It also cannot tell us if the extra sodium leads to health problems in these individuals.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by National Health and Medical Research Council (from the PubMed record).
- Conflicts
- The authors certify that there are no conflicts of interest to declare.
- Authors work at
- The University of Newcastle, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Australia
The paper
- Title
- Happy Little Vegemites™! An analysis of the contribution of yeast extract spreads and tomato-based sauces to nutrient intake adequacy in Australia
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Whatnall M, Clarke ED, Bucher T, Collins CE (2024). Happy Little Vegemites™! An analysis of the contribution of yeast extract spreads and tomato-based sauces to nutrient intake adequacy in Australia. Journal of human nutrition and dietetics. doi:10.1111/jhn.13255Free full textPubMed 37853549DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error