title: Sources of vitamin A in the diets of pre-school children in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC).
abstract: Vitamin A is essential for growth and development. We investigated whether high consumption of energy-dense nutrient-poor foods in the diets of pre-school children is detrimental to diet quality with respect to vitamin A. Data were collected from 755 children at 18-months and 3½-years, from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, using 3-day unweighed dietary records completed by parents in 1994 and 1996, respectively. Energy, carotene and retinol intakes were calculated. The quality of the diet declined from 18-months to 3½-years with respect to vitamin A. Preformed retinol intakes decreased by -54 μg/day on average (p = 0.003). Carotene intakes were similar at each age although there was a 23% increase in energy intake by 3½-years. Longitudinally those in the highest quartile of intake at 18-months were twice as likely to remain in the highest quartile at 3½-years for retinol (OR 2.21 (95% CI 1.48-3.28)) and carotene (OR 1.66 (95% CI 1.11-2.50)) than to change quartiles. Nutrient-rich core foods provided decreasing amounts of carotene and preformed retinol over time (both p < 0.001). Vegetables and milk contributed the highest proportion of carotene at both ages, but milk's contribution decreased over time. Milk and liver were the largest sources of retinol. Nutrient-poor foods provided an increased proportion of energy (p < 0.001) with low proportions of both nutrients; however fat spreads made an important contribution. It is recommended that pre-school children should take vitamin supplements; only 19% at 18-months did this, falling to 11% at 3½-years. Care should be taken to choose nutrient-rich foods and avoid energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods when feeding pre-school children.
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK. vickycribb@hotmail.co.uk
authors.forename: Victoria L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Cribb
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Northstone
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.forename: Pauline M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Emmett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards*; D015930:Diet Records; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010290:Parents; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids