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Association between Changes in Protein Intake and Risk of Cognitive Impairment: A Prospective Cohort Study. Nutrients 2022; 15:nu15010002. [PMID: 36615661 PMCID: PMC9824869 DOI: 10.3390/nu15010002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Little is known about the role of change in protein intake in affecting cognitive function among older adults. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the associations between the change in protein intake from various food groups and cognitive impairment among older adults in a prospective cohort study. A total of 6951 participants without cognitive impairment or dementia were included in this study. The frequency of protein intake from various food groups was measured by a food frequency questionnaire at baseline and follow-up. Multivariable Cox hazard models with time as the underlying time metric applied to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). During the 37,535 person-years of follow-up, 1202 (17.3%) participants developed cognitive impairment. The improvement in overall protein intake was negatively associated with cognitive impairment with multivariable-adjusted HR of 0.98 (95% CI = 0.97-0.99). Compared with participants with stable change, those with an extreme decline in animal-based protein intake had a 48% higher risk of cognitive impairment. The associations of changes in protein from six food groups with cognitive impairment were in a similar direction to the main result. Protective associations between improving protein intake and a reduced risk of cognitive impairment were observed.
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Adherence to Dietary Recommendations of 7-Year-Old Children from a Birth Cohort in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14030515. [PMID: 35276874 PMCID: PMC8838727 DOI: 10.3390/nu14030515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Few Italian and European studies have assessed adherence to dietary recommendations in primary school children using dietary records. No Italian studies have provided an index-based nutritional adequacy assessment. We provided a comprehensive overview of dietary intake in 381 7-year-old children from NAC-II cohort study, Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy). Energy, macro-, and micronutrient intakes were derived from 3-day dietary records. Standard (median and percentage) and index-based (Nutrient Adequacy Ratio (NAR) and Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR)) approaches were used to evaluate adequacy to Italian dietary reference values at nutrient- and overall-diet-level. Percentage contribution of macronutrients to energy intake (%En) was unbalanced towards total fats and protein. In 25% of children, total fats intake exceeded the reference intake upper limit. In ~63% of children, protein intake was at least doubled in their child-specific population reference intake. Median intakes of sodium (1.7 g/day), saturated fatty acids (12.2 %En), and soluble carbohydrates (19.4 %En) exceeded the suggested dietary target in most (65–84%) children. Inadequacy was also observed for micronutrients, with median NARs ranging from 0.11 (vitamin D) to 0.90 (zinc). The median MAR was 0.75 (0.69–0.79), with 1 indicating optimal overall dietary intake. In conclusion, the enrolled children showed suboptimal intakes of several macro- and micronutrients, in line with Italian and European studies on primary school children. Based on the current findings, public health interventions may be targeted to specific nutrients or subpopulations.
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Madrigal C, Soto-Méndez MJ, Hernández-Ruiz Á, Valero T, Lara Villoslada F, Leis R, Martínez de Victoria E, Moreno JM, Ortega RM, Ruiz-López MD, Varela-Moreiras G, Gil Á. Dietary Intake, Nutritional Adequacy, and Food Sources of Protein and Relationships with Personal and Family Factors in Spanish Children Aged One to <10 Years: Findings of the EsNuPI Study. Nutrients 2021; 13:1062. [PMID: 33805229 PMCID: PMC8064310 DOI: 10.3390/nu13041062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Diet in the first years of life is an important factor in growth and development. Dietary protein is a critical macronutrient that provides both essential and nonessential amino acids required for sustaining all body functions and procedures, providing the structural basis to maintain life and healthy development and growth in children. In this study, our aim was to describe the total protein intake, type and food sources of protein, the adequacy to the Population Reference Intake (PRI) for protein by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) by the Institute of Medicine (IoM). Furthermore, we analyzed whether the consumption of dairy products (including regular milk, dairy products, or adapted milk formulas) is associated with nutrient adequacy and the contribution of protein to diet and whole dietary profile in the two cohorts of the EsNuPI (in English, Nutritional Study in the Spanish Pediatric Population) study; one cohort was representative of the Spanish population from one to <10 years old (n = 707) (Spanish reference cohort, SRS) who reported consuming all kinds of milk and one was a cohort of the same age who reported consuming adapted milk over the last year (including follow-on formula, growing up milk, toddler's milk, and enriched and fortified milks) (n = 741) (adapted milk consumers cohort, AMS). The children of both cohorts had a high contribution from protein to total energy intake (16.79% SRS and 15.63% AMS) and a high total protein intake (60.89 g/day SRS and 53.43 g/day AMS). We observed that protein intake in Spanish children aged one to <10 years old was above the European and international recommendations, as well as the recommended percentages for energy intakes. The main protein sources were milk and dairy products (28% SRS and 29% AMS) and meat and meat products (27% SRS and 26% AMS), followed by cereals (16% SRS and 15% AMS), fish and shellfish (8% in both cohorts), eggs (5% SRS and 6% AMS), and legumes (4% in both cohorts). In our study population, protein intake was mainly from an animal origin (meat and meat products, milk and dairy products, fish and shellfish, and eggs) rather than from a plant origin (cereals and legumes). Future studies should investigate the long-term effect of dietary protein in early childhood on growth and body composition, and whether high protein intake affects health later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casandra Madrigal
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain;
- Iberoamerican Nutrition Foundation (FINUT), Armilla, 18016 Granada, Spain; (M.J.S.-M.); (Á.H.-R.); (Á.G.)
| | - María José Soto-Méndez
- Iberoamerican Nutrition Foundation (FINUT), Armilla, 18016 Granada, Spain; (M.J.S.-M.); (Á.H.-R.); (Á.G.)
| | - Ángela Hernández-Ruiz
- Iberoamerican Nutrition Foundation (FINUT), Armilla, 18016 Granada, Spain; (M.J.S.-M.); (Á.H.-R.); (Á.G.)
| | - Teresa Valero
- Spanish Nutrition Foundation (FEN), 28010 Madrid, Spain; (T.V.); (G.V.-M.)
| | | | - Rosaura Leis
- Unit of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Hepatology and Nutrition University Clinical Hospital of Santiago, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
- Health Research Institute of Santiago (IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Emilio Martínez de Victoria
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain;
- Biomedical Research Center, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology “José Mataix”, University of Granada, 18100 Granada, Spain
| | - José Manuel Moreno
- Pediatric Department, University of Navarra Clinic, 28027 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Rosa M. Ortega
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - María Dolores Ruiz-López
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain;
- Iberoamerican Nutrition Foundation (FINUT), Armilla, 18016 Granada, Spain; (M.J.S.-M.); (Á.H.-R.); (Á.G.)
- Biomedical Research Center, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology “José Mataix”, University of Granada, 18100 Granada, Spain
| | - Gregorio Varela-Moreiras
- Spanish Nutrition Foundation (FEN), 28010 Madrid, Spain; (T.V.); (G.V.-M.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, CEU San Pablo University, 28668 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ángel Gil
- Iberoamerican Nutrition Foundation (FINUT), Armilla, 18016 Granada, Spain; (M.J.S.-M.); (Á.H.-R.); (Á.G.)
- Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Center, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology “José Mataix”, University of Granada, 18100 Granada, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
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Garemo M, Elamin A, Gardner A. Home packed food for nursery children in United Arab Emirates provides suboptimal quality. MEDITERRANEAN JOURNAL OF NUTRITION AND METABOLISM 2020. [DOI: 10.3233/mnm-200418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Early childhood nutrition is associated with health outcomes later in life, hence developing health promoting habits from an early age is imperative. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional adequacy of home-packed food brought to the nurseries by attending children. METHODS: In a cross sectional study conducted in 7 nurseries in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 315 food-boxes were assessed through detailed food observations at the nurseries prior to mealtimes. The food content was evaluated using the Alberta Guidelines for nursery food, Canada. RESULTS: Most food boxes contained refined grains (77.5%), fruits (74.6%), sweet/full fat dairy products (77.5%), discretionary-calorie-food-items (70.6%). Emirati children were offered sweetened drinks significantly more (p < 0.001). Non-dairy protein sources, vegetables, low-fat-natural-dairy products were offered to 45.4%, 44.1% and 3.9% of children, respectively. Overall, 70.2% of the food-boxes contained not-recommended food and 63.1% of the children were served a very poor food combination. CONCLUSIONS: Despite frequent inclusion of recommended food, many food boxes were nutritionally inadequate due to their low content of whole grains, low-fat dairy products, vegetables and animal proteins and high content of sweet food and drinks. The inadequate dietary patterns necessitate developing nutrition guidelines for nurseries in Abu Dhabi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malin Garemo
- Department of Health Sciences, College of Natural and Health Sciences, Zayed University, United Arab Emirates
| | - Amal Elamin
- Department of Health Sciences, College of Natural and Health Sciences, Zayed University, United Arab Emirates
| | - Andrew Gardner
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Perth, WA, Australia
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Ehleringer JR, Covarrubias Avalos S, Tipple BJ, Valenzuela LO, Cerling TE. Stable isotopes in hair reveal dietary protein sources with links to socioeconomic status and health. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:20044-20051. [PMID: 32747534 PMCID: PMC7443935 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1914087117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in hair sampled from 65 communities across the central and intermountain regions of the United States and more intensively throughout 29 ZIP codes in the Salt Lake Valley, Utah, revealed a dietary divergence related to socioeconomic status as measured by cost of living, household income, and adjusted gross income. Corn-fed, animal-derived proteins were more common in the diets of lower socioeconomic status populations than were plant-derived proteins, with individual estimates of animal-derived protein diets as high as 75%; United States towns and cities averaged 57%. Similar patterns were seen across the socioeconomic status spectrum in the Salt Lake Valley. It is likely that corn-fed animal proteins were associated with concentrated animal-feeding operations, a common practice for industrial animal production in the United States today. Given recent studies highlighting the negative impacts of animal-derived proteins in our diets, hair carbon isotope ratios could provide an approach for scaling assessments of animal-sourced foods and health risks in communities across the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R Ehleringer
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112;
- Global Change and Sustainability Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
| | | | - Brett J Tipple
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
- Global Change and Sustainability Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
| | - Luciano O Valenzuela
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Laboratorio de Ecología Evolutiva Humana, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, CP 7631 Quequén, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Thure E Cerling
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
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Krzysztoszek J, Kleka P, Laudańska-Krzemińska I. Assessment of selected nutrient intake by Polish preschool children compared to dietary recommendations: a meta-analysis. Arch Med Sci 2020; 16:635-647. [PMID: 32399113 PMCID: PMC7212230 DOI: 10.5114/aoms.2020.93046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In recent years a steady increase in the number of obese people has been observed worldwide. This problem is also increasingly applicable to children and adolescents. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis of studies carried out in Poland over ten years (2005-2015) which analysed the diet of preschool children and assessed how significantly it affects the prevention of diet-dependent disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS Two of the researchers independently performed a systematic search of Medline, Embase, Google Scholar, and the Polish Medical Bibliography to find studies published between 2005 and 2015. The variance of the means of differences between selected factors in relation to dietary guidelines and standards for preschool children was estimated by summing the individual variances of means. The means of differences between selected factors across the studies were pooled using random-effects model meta-analysis. RESULTS The analysis included a total of 2095 children. Mean protein content in the diet of children studied is 111% higher than indicated in dietary recommendations for this age group; mean consumption of carbohydrates in the study group is 24% higher than recommended. In moderately high calorie diets, analysis showed that the recommended norm is exceeded by 47%, CE 0.77, p < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS Nutrient intake is not compliant with recommendations for this age group and could not only inhibit physical development, but also increase the risk of diet-dependent diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Krzysztoszek
- Department of Didactics of Physical Activity, Poznan University of Physical Education, Poznan, Poland
| | - Paweł Kleka
- Institute of Psychology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Ida Laudańska-Krzemińska
- Department of Physical Activity Study and Health Promotion, Poznan University of Physical Education, Poznan, Poland
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Aggarwal A, Drewnowski A. Plant- and animal-protein diets in relation to sociodemographic drivers, quality, and cost: findings from the Seattle Obesity Study. Am J Clin Nutr 2019; 110:451-460. [PMID: 31172179 PMCID: PMC6669134 DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqz064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Promoting plant-based proteins is at the forefront of many initiatives in public health nutrition. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to characterize the sociodemographic drivers of plant-based protein diet consumption, and to study these in relation to diet quality and cost. METHODS The Seattle Obesity Study series (SOS I and II) yielded the study sample (n = 1636). Sociodemographic data were obtained by survey self-report. Diet quality and cost came from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Food-Frequency Questionnaire linked to retail food prices. The Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI-2010) and mean adequacy ratio (MAR) served as measures of diet quality. Linear regressions with robust standard errors examined associations. RESULTS Total proteins contributed 16.8% of daily dietary energy. The breakdown by animal and plant proteins was 10.9% and 5.9%, respectively. The sociodemographic factors associated with plant-protein consumption were a positive attitude towards healthy eating and higher education but not income. Plant-protein diets were characterized by severalfold increases in nuts and seeds, soy and legumes, but much less meat, poultry, dairy, solid fats, and added sugars. Higher quartiles of plant-based diets were associated with significantly higher HEI-2010 (β: 13.0 from quartile 1 to quartile 4; 95% CI: 11.8, 14.3) and higher MAR (β: 6.0; 95% CI: 3.5, 8.5) with minimal impact on diet costs (β: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.67). In contrast, higher quartiles of animal-protein diets were associated with higher diet costs (β: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.77, 1.36) but lower HEI-2010 (β: -3.2; 95% CI: -4.5, -1.9). Each additional 3% of energy from plant proteins was associated with an 8.4-unit increase in HEI-2010 (95% CI: 7.6, 9.1) and with a 4.1-unit increase in MAR (95% CI: 2.7, 5.5) with a minimal increase in diet cost (β: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.50). CONCLUSION Plant-based protein diets may be a cost-effective way to improve diet quality at all levels of income. Future research needs to evaluate the quality of plant-based protein in relation to amino acids and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anju Aggarwal
- Center for Public Health Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA,Address correspondence to AA (e-mail: )
| | - Adam Drewnowski
- Center for Public Health Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
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Individual characteristics associated with changes in the contribution of plant foods to dietary intake in a French prospective cohort. Eur J Nutr 2018; 58:1991-2002. [DOI: 10.1007/s00394-018-1752-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Koo HC, Poh BK, Lee ST, Chong KH, Bragt MCE, Abd Talib R. Are Malaysian Children Achieving Dietary Guideline Recommendations? Asia Pac J Public Health 2016; 28:8S-20S. [PMID: 27073200 DOI: 10.1177/1010539516641504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A large body of epidemiological data has demonstrated that diet quality follows a sociodemographic gradient. Little is known, however, about food group intake patterns among Malaysian children. This study aimed to assess consumption pattern of 7 food groups, including cereals/grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, fish, meat/poultry, and milk/dairy products, among children 7 to 12 years of age. A total of 1773 children who participated in SEANUTS Malaysia and who completed the Food Frequency Questionnaire were included in this study. A greater proportion of children aged 10 to 12 years have an inadequate intake of cereals/grains, meat/poultry, legumes, and milk/dairy products compared with children 7 to 9 years old. With the exception of meat/poultry, food consumption of Malaysian children did not meet Malaysian Dietary Guidelines recommendations for the other 6 food groups, irrespective of sociodemographic backgrounds. Efforts are needed to promote healthy and balanced dietary habits, particularly for foods that fall short of recommended intake level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Chin Koo
- Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Management and Science University, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Bee Koon Poh
- Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Kar Hau Chong
- Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Dietary ratio of animal:plant protein is associated with 24-h urinary iodine excretion in healthy school children. Br J Nutr 2015; 114:24-33. [PMID: 26059089 DOI: 10.1017/s0007114515001567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Adequate dietary iodine intake in children is essential for optimal physical and neurological development. Whether lower dietary animal food and salt intake may adversely affect iodine status is under discussion. We examined the association between dietary animal:plant protein ratio with 24-h urinary iodine excretion (24-h UI, μg/d), and whether this is modified by salt intake. A 24-h UI was measured in 1959 24-h urine samples from 516 6- to 12-year-old participants of the Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed Study. Parallel 3 d weighed food records were used to estimate dietary intakes. Protein sources were classified as dairy, animal and plant. A repeated-measures regression model (PROC MIXED) was used to analyse the effect of animal:plant protein ratios on 24-h UI. ANIMAL plant protein ratios ranged from 0.5 (95 % CI 0.4, 0.6) to 1.6 (95 % CI 1.4, 1.9) (lowest and highest quartile). After adjustment for total energy intake, main dietary iodine sources (dairy and salt intake), and further covariates, the inter-individual variation in animal:plant protein ratio was significantly associated with variation in 24-h UI. One unit higher animal:plant protein ratio predicted 6 μg/d higher 24-h UI (P= 0.002) in boys and 5 μg/d (P= 0.03) in girls. This relationship was partially mediated by a higher salt intake at higher animal:plant protein ratios. These results suggest that lower consumption of animal protein is associated with a small decline in iodine excretion, partially mediated by decreased salt intake. Because limited salt and increased intake of plant-based foods are part of a preferable healthy food pattern, effective nutrition political strategies will be required in the future to ensure appropriate iodine nutrition in adherent populations.
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Merkiel S. Dietary intake in 6-year-old children from southern Poland: part 1--energy and macronutrient intakes. BMC Pediatr 2014; 14:197. [PMID: 25086600 PMCID: PMC4126390 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2431-14-197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2014] [Accepted: 07/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The studies on dietary intake in Polish children are sparse and the information about dietary intake in 6-year-olds in Europe is limited. The published studies on dietary intake in children rarely provide information on the intake of animal protein, plant protein and water. The purpose of the study was to analyse energy and macronutrient intakes in 6-year-old children from southern Poland. Methods The studied population comprised 120 children, 64 girls and 56 boys. Energy and macronutrient intakes were estimated from a three-day food record. Weight and height were measured, and body mass index was calculated. Results Intakes of energy (kJ, kcal), plant protein (g), total fat (g), saturated fatty acids (g, % of energy, g/1000 kcal), monounsaturated fatty acids (g) and starch (g, % of energy, g/1000 kcal) were significantly higher in boys, while intakes of sucrose (% of energy, g/1000 kcal) and total water (g/1000 kcal) were significantly higher in girls. The children’s diets were characterised by excessive intake of total fat, saturated fatty acids, sucrose, and by inadequate intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids, available carbohydrates and starch. Conclusions The observed adverse characteristics of the children’s diets are similar to those observed in the diets of children in other European countries and show the need to work out a common educational programme to improve nutrition in young European children. It is also important to provide the lacking information about the intake of animal protein, plant protein and water in young children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylwia Merkiel
- Food and Nutrition Department of the Eugeniusz Piasecki University School of Physical Education in Poznan, Poland, Królowej Jadwigi 27/39 Street, Poznan, 61-871, Poland.
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