[Food consumption of infants and young children in France in 1997].
BACKGROUND
In 1981 and 1989, two French nationwide food consumption surveys reported the dietary intakes of infants and toddlers. In 1997, another survey was conducted.


METHODS
Six-hundred and sixty, 1 to 30-month-old infants and children were recruited. Food records were completed by their parents during a 3-day period. Energy, proteins, carbohydrates, total lipids, minerals, vitamins, linoleic acid contents were calculated. Energy contribution of various food groups and the pattern of the distribution of the different meals were indicated.


RESULTS
Between 1989 and 1997, the contribution of milk-based infant formulas increased at 4, 5, 7 and 8-9 months. From the age of 5 months, approximately 75% of the children had a protein intake twice as high as the official recommendations. Mean iron intakes were higher than those calculated in 1989 at the age of 7, 8-9 and 10-12 months. The average daily intake of linoleic acid was lower than the recommended daily allowance from the age of 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Trends in dietary intakes between 1989 and 1997 indicated that the nutritional needs of French infants and toddlers are better covered as recommended by scientific committees. More effective efforts are needed for improvement of their nutritional status particularly for iron and essential fatty acids. For example, weaning foods should be introduced later and toddler's formulas should be used more systematically and longer.
Boggio
V
V
Département de physiologie, faculté de médecine, université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France.
Grossiord
A
A
Guyon
S
S
Fuchs
F
F
Fantino
M
M
D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D004034:Diet Surveys; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007501:Iron; D014815:Vitamins
D014815:Vitamins; D007501:Iron
Consommation alimentaire des nourrissons et des enfants en bas âge en France en 1997.