[Nutrient intakes in 2005 by non-breast fed French children of less than 36 months].
BACKGROUND
Knowledge of the nutritional consumption of very young children is of main interest, but little is known about the dietary status of French infants and toddlers.


OBJECTIVE
To assess energy and nutrient intake and the adequacy of diet of French infants and toddlers.


METHODS
A national cross-sectional survey was conducted in France from January to March 2005, using proportionate quota sampling based on the age of the children, the occupation of the mother, and the family socioeconomic category.


METHODS
Seven-hundred and six children were allocated to 11 age subgroups ranging from one to three months to 31-36 months. Totally or partially breastfed infants were excluded. ANALYSES PERFORMED: Individual consecutive 3-day weight food records were converted into energy intake and intake of 24 nutrients according to food composition databases recently updated for 1260 standard foods and all the formulae and specific baby foods manufactured and marketed in France in 2005.


RESULTS
Mean daily energy intake in 2005 was above the estimated average requirement up to seven months of age, but was lower after one year. Protein, fat, and carbohydrate intakes were adequate, while calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and B group vitamins were above the recommended dietary allowances for all 11 subgroups. However, for toddlers over 12 months of age, some may have had an inadequate intake of alpha-linolenic acid, vitamin E, vitamin C, iron and zinc, whereas mean sodium intake was above the adequate intake for all age subgroups.


CONCLUSIONS
The diet of French infants was adequate for a large proportion of children and satisfied most of their nutritional requirements. However, the intake of iron and alpha-linolenic acid in particular needs to be improved for some French toddlers.
Fantino
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M
Faculté de médecine, université de Bourgogne, 7 boulevard Jeanne-d'Arc, Dijon cedex, France. mfantino@u-bourgogne.fr
Gourmet
E
E
D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000592:standards; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005602:France; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000592:standards; D009752:Nutritional Status