title: Nutrient Adequacy and Associated Factors in a Nationwide Sample of German Toddlers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nutrition in toddlerhood may have short- and long-term impacts on health and nutrition behavior. The objectives of the present article are to describe intake of energy and nutrients from the end of infancy to toddlerhood, and to examine dietary and socioeconomic factors (socioeconomic status [SES]) associated with total nutrient adequacy measured by a nutrient-based index (Nutrient Quality Index [NQI]).
  
  
  METHODS
  In the German Representative Study of Toddler Alimentation from 2008, 7-day estimated dietary records were collected cross-sectionally from toddlers ages 10 to 36 months (n = 525). The study population was recruited in the TNS access panel. The intakes of energy and 18 nutrients were evaluated and the NQI was determined. Age trends in nutrient intake were tested with analysis of variance. Analysis of the association between SES and the NQI was performed by multiple linear regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all of the age groups, energy intake was close to the reference value representing moderate physical activity. The mean intake of most vitamins and minerals reached the respective reference values, but nutrient density decreased with age. Dietary intakes of iron, iodine, and vitamin D are low in our study. The NQI reached approximately 80 points and was lower in older children than in younger children. NQI was not affected by SES but by formula use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nutritional quality measured by total nutrient intake is altogether high in German toddlers, although NQI decreased with increasing age. The NQI is independent of social class. The positive association with formula intake can be explained by the general enrichment of vitamins and minerals of these products.
authors.affiliation: *Research Institute of Child Nutrition Dortmund (FKE), Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Bonn †Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Dortmund ‡Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Annett
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hilbig
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Drossard
authors.forename: Mathilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kersting
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Alexy
mesh_terms: D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D004034:Diet Surveys; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009753:Nutritive Value; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors