Tracking dietary intake in white and Mexican-American children from age 4 to 12 years.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the tracking (ie, the stability over time) of dietary intake in Mexican-American and white children aged 4 to 12 years.


METHODS
Children 4 years of age (n=351) were assessed at baseline and 65% (n=228) completed the 8-year study.


METHODS
Cardiovascular disease-related dietary intake was defined as energy, percent of energy from fat, and sodium (mg/1,000 kcal). From age 4 to 7 years, a modified 24-hour recall with observation of lunch and dinner and interview of the primary food preparer for unobserved foods was used to describe dietary intake. For children aged 11 to 12 years, a standardized 24-hour recall was used.


METHODS
A mixed effects model that adjusted for sex, ethnicity, and measurement wave allowed for separation of shorter-term variations in diet from more stable ("between subject") variations. Extent of between-subject variance is an indication of tracking.


RESULTS
From age 4 to age 7, there were statistically significant between-subject variance components for energy (P<.00001), percent of energy from fat (P<.00001), and sodium per 1,000 kcals (P<.001); for ages 11 and 12, energy intake was significant (P<.00001). There were no significant associations for dietary intake from age 4 to 12 years.


CONCLUSIONS
It seems that dietary intakes are stable over short periods and at earlier ages compared with longer intervals and later ages. Nutrition interventions are needed in childhood and throughout adolescence.
Zive
Michelle Murphy
MM
Community Pediatrics Division, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0927, USA.
Berry
Charles C
CC
Sallis
James F
JF
Frank
Gail C
GC
Nader
Philip R
PR
D000367:Age Factors; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D004041:Dietary Fats; D012982:Sodium, Dietary