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Dietary sources and sodium intake in a sample of Australian preschool children
Siobhan A O'Halloran1, Carley A Grimes1, Kathleen E Lacy1
1Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
Insights
Most Australian preschool children consume excessive sodium, primarily from core and ultraprocessed foods. Reducing sodium in these food categories is crucial for improving children's dietary habits and public health.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Public Health Nutrition
- Dietary Assessment
Background:
- High sodium intake in early childhood is a concern for long-term health.
- Understanding sodium sources is vital for targeted interventions in preschool-aged children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the dietary sodium intake of Australian preschool children.
- To identify the primary food sources contributing to sodium consumption in this age group.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 251 Australian children aged approximately 3.5 years.
- Dietary sodium intake was assessed using three 24-hour dietary recalls.
- Analysis included contributions from food groups, core, discretionary, and processed foods.
Main Results:
- The average sodium intake was 1508 mg/day, with 87% of children exceeding the Australian Upper Level of Intake (UL).
- Key sodium sources included cereal/cereal products (25%), milk products (19%), and meat (17%).
- Ultraprocessed foods (48%) and core foods (65%) were significant contributors to daily sodium intake.
Conclusions:
- The majority of preschool children in the sample exceeded recommended sodium intake levels.
- Core and ultraprocessed foods are major sources of sodium, necessitating reductions in their sodium content.
- Findings support public health initiatives aimed at lowering sodium consumption and reducing intake of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods.
Objectives:
To assess dietary sodium intake and the food sources of sodium in a sample of Australian preschool children.
Design:
Cross-sectional.
Setting:
Mothers were followed up when children were approximately 3.5 years of age after participating in a cluster randomised controlled trial: the Melbourne Infant Feeding Activity and Nutrition Trial Program.
Participants:
251 Australian children aged 3.5 ± 0.19 (SD) years.
Primary And Secondary Outcome Measures:
The average daily sodium intake was determined using three unscheduled 24 h dietary recalls. The contributions of food groups, core, discretionary and processed foods to daily sodium intake were assessed.
Results:
The average sodium intake was 1508 ± 495 (SD) mg/day, (salt equivalent 3.9 ± 1.3 (SD) g/day) and 87% of children exceeded the Australian Upper Level of Intake (UL) for sodium of 1000 mg/day (salt equivalent 2.6 g/day). Main food sources of sodium were cereal/cereal products (25%), milk products (19%), meat, poultry/game (17%) and cereal-based products (15%). Core foods contributed 65%, and discretionary foods 35% of total daily sodium intake, and within the total diet, minimally processed, processed, processed culinary ingredient and ultraprocessed foods contributed 16%, 35%, 1% and 48% of sodium, respectively.
Conclusions:
Within this sample, most children exceeded the recommended UL for sodium. Core and ultraprocessed foods were key sources of sodium which suggests that reductions in the sodium content of these foods are required to reduce sodium intake in young children. These data also provide further support for public health campaigns that seek to reduce consumption of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods.
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