title: Intake and dietary sources of haem and non-haem iron in Flemish preschoolers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the absence of biochemical data on iron status in preschoolers, data on the adequacy of iron intake may be used to assess the possible risk of iron deficiency in this population group. Therefore, this study aims to investigate iron intake and its food sources in Flemish preschoolers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 661 Flemish preschoolers 2.5-6.5 years old were recruited via a random cluster sampling design, using schools as primary sampling units. Three-day estimated diet records were used to assess dietary intakes. The contribution to iron intake (haem and non-haem) of 57 food groups was computed by summing the amount provided by the food group for all individuals divided by the total intake for all individuals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean total iron intake (s.d.) was 7.4 (±2.3) and 6.7 (±2.8) mg/day for boys and girls, respectively. In all 65% of the children <4 years old and 45% of those 4-6.5 years old presented adequate iron intakes. The food groups with the highest mean proportional contribution to total iron intake were bread, meat and meat products, breakfast cereals and sweet snacks (in that order). Children from small families whose mother had a low educational level had higher iron intakes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Iron intakes were similar for boys and girls and almost half of the Flemish preschoolers do not comply with the dietary iron recommendations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, Ghent, Belgium. inge.huybrechts@ugent.be
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Huybrechts
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: De Keyzer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Matthys
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meirhaeghe
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dallongeville
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sarria
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Backer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Henauw
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000209:etiology*; D001530:Belgium; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006418:Heme / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D019266:Iron, Dietary; D006418:Heme; D007501:Iron