Diet Quality and Nutrient Adequacy Among Polish Children: Findings from the PITNUTS 2024 Study

The past evidence indicates that Polish children's diets frequently deviate from recommendations. The aim of the PITNUTS 2024 study was to provide an updated nationwide assessment of energy and nutrient intake among children aged 5-72 months, evaluate the risk of inadequate intake, and examine the relationship between diet quality patterns and nutritional adequacy.

PITNUTS 2024 was a cross-sectional study analyzing dietary data from a representative sample of 940 Polish children. Dietary intake was assessed qualitatively and quantitatively. Nutrient adequacy was evaluated using the estimated average requirement or adequate intake cut-point method. Two diet quality scores were developed: the Children's pro-Healthy Diet Score and the Children's non-Healthy Diet Score, and their association with the risk of inadequate intake was evaluated using logistic regression.

The proportion of energy derived from protein intake exceeded recommended levels in most children, while that from fat was typically below reference levels, especially in younger groups of children. The risk of inadequate energy intake from carbohydrates was uncommon, while sucrose intake exceeding 10% of overall energy was present in almost half of the children. Among children aged 13-72 months, approximately 15% adhered to high child-pHDS, associated with a lower risk of insufficient intake of selected nutrients.

The diets of Polish children aged 5-72 months show persistent nutritional risks, including excessive protein intake, low vitamin D intake, suboptimal fatty acid intake profiles, and insufficient calcium and fibre intake. Diet quality scores can be useful for identifying children at risk of inadequate nutrient intake.