Nutrient intake and growth in pre-school children

It is widely recognised that our knowledge of the nutrient intake of pre-school children aged 2 - 5 years and of their nutritional requirements for growth, is poor. Consequently, opinion is divided on whether modified diets, aimed primarily at the prevention of future adult diseases, adequately support growth in preschool children.Between May 1988 and April 1990 the nutrient intake and growth of 153 pre-school children from Edinburgh, aged 2 - 5 years, were assessed. 54 children repeated the study after an interval of 12 months to give a total of 207 assessments. Nutrient intake was determined by the 7 day weighed inventory method. Anthropometric measurements included height, weight and skinfold thicknesses. Supplementary information and social details were recorded by questionnaire. The data was grouped and analysed by age and gender of the children, and also by socioeconomic group.For each group of children a low mean energy intake of 80% - 85% of the current UK Estimated Average Requirement of energy was found (Department of Health 1991). The intake of other nutrients ranged widely, with group mean intakes at or above values of Recommended Nutrient Intakes, except for the intake of vitamin D which was very low and of iron in 2 year old children which was also low.The % of energy from fat, sugar, starch and dextrin varied considerably but no correlations were found with energy intake. Thus low fat or high sugar diets did not affect the average daily intake of energy. Such diets, however, did significantly affect the quality of the diet in terms of mineral and vitamin intakes per 1000 kilocalories. Also, highly significant correlations were found between intake of nutrients during the first and second survey of children studied twice.The anthropometric measurements of the children ranged widely but fell within the normal range for age, with group mean values for height and weight at or above the 50th percentile level. As anticipated, highly significant positive correlations were found between age, height, weight and energy intake. However, no significant correlations were found between energy or nutrient intakes and rate of growth, in terms of height velocity.The nutrient intake and growth parameters of children taking low fibre v high fibre and low fat v high fat diets were compared. No evidence was found to suggest that modification of diet compromised the normal growth of pre-school children. Likewise, no evidence was found to suggest that children who had been taking semi-skimmed milk for the previous year were growing less well than those taking full-fat milk.A full discussion of the results of this thesis is given and dietary guidelines for pre-school children aged 2 - 5 years are proposed