Polyunsaturated fatty acids and anthropometric indices of children in rural China.
OBJECTIVE
To define fatty acid and macronutrient intakes in a rural Chinese preschool population, and relate these intakes to anthropometric indices.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey of anthropometry and diet (three 24-h recalls). National Centers for Health Statistics/World Health Organization growth reference charts were used to determine the prevalence of malnutrition (z-scores less than -2 standard deviation (s.d.) below the mean): height-for-age (stunted), weight-for-age (underweight), weight-for-height (wasted) and mid-upper-arm-circumference-for-age (low fat/muscle).


METHODS
A total of 196 children aged 1-5 years old were volunteered by their families to participate in the survey, located in Heqing County, Yunnan Province, China.


RESULTS
The respective prevalence of stunting, underweight, wasting and low fat/muscle was: 38, 21, 2 and 8%. Daily intakes of linoleic acid (LA; 18:2n-6), alpha-linolenic acid (LNA; 18:3n-3), arachidonic acid (AA; 20:4n-6) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3), averaged for all children, were 2 100+/-1200, 300+/-250, 55+/-35 and 30+/-140 mg/day, respectively. As percent of total fat intake, LA contributed 11.9%, LNA 1.8%, AA 0.3% and DHA 0.2%. Height-for-age and weight-for-age z-scores were negatively correlated with g/kg/day intake of LA and AA (P<0.05). Weight-for-height z-score was negatively correlated with AA g/kg/day intake (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
This study provided polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) intakes in rural preschool children in a developing country. The associations of PUFA intake with early childhood growth suggest that growth in preschool-aged children could be significantly and specifically related to n-6 fatty acid intakes.
Barbarich
B N
BN
Alberta Institute for Human Nutrition, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. bobbibarbarich@capitalhealth.ca
Willows
N D
ND
Wang
L
L
Clandinin
M T
MT
D000886:Anthropometry; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012424:Rural Population
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated