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Energy and nutrient intakes by pre-school children in Flanders-Belgium
Inge Huybrechts1, Stefaan De Henauw
1Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. inge.huybrechts@ugent.be
Insights
This study on Belgian preschoolers found inadequate intakes of fiber, iron, and vitamin D, alongside excessive sodium. While energy intake was mostly adequate, unhealthy fat profiles and high sodium may pose future cardiovascular risks.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Public Health
Background:
- Understanding nutrient intake in preschool children is crucial for long-term health.
- Dietary patterns in affluent populations may not meet recommended nutritional guidelines.
- Assessing preschooler diets in Flanders, Belgium, provides insights into regional nutritional status.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate energy and nutrient intakes in preschool children (2.5-6.5 years) in Flanders, Belgium.
- To compare observed intakes with national and international dietary recommendations.
- To identify potential nutritional deficiencies and excesses impacting children's health.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study utilizing multistage clustered sampling.
- Dietary assessment of 661 children (338 boys, 323 girls) using 3-day estimated diet records.
- Statistical modeling to determine usual nutrient intakes and compare them against recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) and acceptable macronutrient distribution ranges (AMDRs).
Main Results:
- Mean energy intakes approached estimated energy requirements (EER) for younger children (<4 years) but were below EER for older children (≥4 years).
- Saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake exceeded the upper AMDR limit (13-14 en%), while monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intakes fell below lower AMDR limits.
- Fewer than 15% of children met RDAs for fiber, iron, and vitamin D; all children exceeded the tolerable upper intake level for sodium.
Conclusions:
- While most nutrients were adequate, low intakes of iron, vitamin D, and fiber warrant further investigation.
- Dietary patterns characterized by high SFA, low MUFA/PUFA, and excessive sodium may increase future cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
- Targeted nutritional interventions are needed to address specific nutrient shortfalls and unhealthy dietary habits in Belgian preschoolers.
Abstract:
The objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate energy and nutrient intakes in pre-school children in Flanders-Belgium, using multistage clustered sampling. Diets of 661 children (338 boys; 323 girls) between 2.5 and 6.5 years old were assessed, with parentally reported 3 d estimated diet records. Usual energy and nutrient intakes were compared with national and international recommendations. Statistical modelling was used to account for within-individual variation. Mean daily energy intakes (boys, 6543 kJ; girls, 5757 kJ) approached the estimated energy requirements (EER) (boys, 6040 kJ; girls, 5798 kJ) for children < 4 years old. For children at least 4 years old, mean energy intakes (boys, 6408 kJ; girls, 5914 kJ) were below the EER of 6995 and 6740 kJ/d, respectively. Mean energy percentage (en%) derived from saturated fatty acids (SFA) (13-14 en%) was above the acceptable macronutrient distribution range (AMDR) upper level of 12 en%. Mean percentages derived from MUFA (10-11 en%) and PUFA (4-5 en%) were below the AMDR lower levels of 12 and 8 en%, respectively. For fibre, iron and vitamin D intakes, < 15 % of the children reached the recommended dietary allowances. Everybody exceeded the tolerable upper intake levels for sodium. Although diets in Belgian children were adequate in most nutrients, the implications of low iron, vitamin D and fibre intakes should be investigated. Furthermore, this affluent diet, characterised by SFA, MUFA and PUFA intakes differing from the recommendations and excessive sodium intakes, might increase the risk for CVD in later life.
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