Dietary practices and nutritional status of 0-24-month-old children from Brazilian Amazonia.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the nutritional status and dietary practices of 0-24-month-old children living in Brazilian Amazonia.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study. Information on children's dietary intakes was obtained from diet history data. Weight and length were measured for anthropometric evaluation. Fe status was assessed using fasting venous blood samples; Hb, serum ferritin and soluble transferrin receptor concentrations were measured.


METHODS
The towns of Assis Brasil and Acrelândia in the state of Acre, north-west Brazil.


METHODS
A total of sixty-nine randomly selected 0-24-month-old children.


RESULTS
Of these children, 40.3 % were anaemic, 63.1 % were Fe-deficient, 28.1 % had Fe-deficiency anaemia and 11.6 % were stunted. Breast-feeding was initiated by 97.1 % of mothers, followed by early feeding with complementary foods. The dietary pattern reflected a high intake of carbohydrate-rich foods and cow's milk, with irregular intakes of fruit, vegetables and meat. All infants and 92.3 % of toddlers were at risk of inadequate Fe intakes. Fe from animal foods contributed on average 0.5 % and 14.3 % to total dietary Fe intake among infants and toddlers, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Poor nutritional status and inadequate feeding practices in this study population reinforce the importance of exclusive breast-feeding during the first 6 months of life. Greater emphasis is required to improve the bioavailability of dietary Fe during complementary feeding practices.
Castro
T G
TG
Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, Av Dr Arnaldo 715, São Paulo, Brazil.
Baraldi
L G
LG
Muniz
P T
PT
Cardoso
M A
MA
D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000886:Anthropometry; D001682:Biological Availability; D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood; D014886:Weaning
D019266:Iron, Dietary; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron