Dietary intakes in children born small for gestational age and appropriate for gestational age: A longitudinal study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nutrition
• Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors
• Growth and Development

Background:

• Children born small for gestational age (SGA) face higher risks for later-life cardiovascular disease (CVD).
• Dietary intake patterns in SGA children are not well understood.
• Understanding early-life nutrition is crucial for mitigating long-term health risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare dietary intakes of SGA and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) children at ages 3.5, 7, and 11 years.
• To identify potential nutritional deficiencies or excesses in SGA children.
• To inform strategies for improving long-term health outcomes in SGA individuals.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal case-control study (Auckland Birthweight Collaborative Study) of term-born children (n=871).
• Dietary assessment via 24-hour record-assisted recall at 3.5, 7, and 11 years.
• Comparison of reported intakes against Australian and New Zealand Nutrient Reference Values.

Main Results:

• SGA children had significantly lower median energy intakes at 3.5 years compared to AGA children (p < .0001).
• Micronutrient inadequacy was more common in SGA children at 3.5 and 11 years.
• High consumption of saturated fats, sugars, and sodium was prevalent in both SGA and AGA groups.

Conclusions:

• Early-life dietary intake (energy, micronutrients) differs between SGA and AGA children, with potential implications for future health.
• Despite lower energy intake, SGA children's diets may be appropriate relative to their BMI z-scores.
• Public health focus on reducing sodium, saturated fat, and sugar is warranted for all children in this cohort.