[The relationship between income and children's habitual consumption of β-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E in food].
OBJECTIVE
Examining the relationship between family income and daily b-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E consumption amongst children in the city of João Pessoa / PB, Brazil.


METHODS
One hundred and eighty-three children aged 2 to <10 years were evaluated, in a sample stratified by income level which was representative of the population of Joao Pessoa. The research instrument consisted of questionnaires addressing socio-economic, demographic, epidemiological, anthropometric and food consumption variables. The results were analysedby using R software, using descriptive (mean, median, standard-deviation, simple and relative frequency and percentage) and inferential statistics (correlation and regression).


RESULTS
Participants were predominantly male (55 %) from income classes E (up to US$ 428.64) and C (> US$ 622.31-US$ 2,682.93) and mothers who had studied for nine years or more. Regarding vitamin intake, there was low vitamin C inadequacy (8 %) and high vitamin E inadequacy (59 %), the latter being more frequent in the 4-8 year-old age group (33 % of children). There was an inverse correlation between income and energy intake (r=-0.1525, p<0.05) and between income and vitamin E consumption (r=-0.3, p<0.05). The relationship between income and maternal education (p<0.05), between income and b-carotene consumption and between income and vitamin C consumption was significantly positive (r=0.33 and r=0.28, respectively, p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
It was concluded that consuming vitamins having antioxidant properties was positively related to family income regarding vitamin C and b-carotene and negatively related regarding vitamin E and calories.
Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brasil. geovana_nutri@hotmail.com
Geovanna T
GT
de Paiva-Bandeira
Luiza S
LS
Rios-Asciutti
Amélia A
AA
Rivera
Maria da Conceição
Mda C
Rodrigues-Gonçalves
Rafaella C
RC
Pordeus-de-Lima
Tarciane
T
Marinho-Albuquerque
Ronei
R
Marcos-de-Morais
Rodrigo Pinheiro
RP
de Toledo-Vianna
Adyla
A
Farias-de-Oliveira
Roberto
R
Teixeira-Lima
Maria J
MJ
de Carvalho-Costa
D000975:Antioxidants; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000191:economics*; D004522:Educational Status; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population; D014810:Vitamin E; D019207:beta Carotene
D000975:Antioxidants; D019207:beta Carotene; D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid