Dietary potential renal Acid load in venezuelan children.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to determine and analyze the dietary PRAL and food composition pattern in apparently healthy children from 1 to 6 years of age.


METHODS
Parents of 52 children were selected by convenience, in an outpatient clinic of healthy children. Dietary quality and pattern was assessed by 24 hour recall and food frequency questionnaire. We focused on the intake of macronutrients and food groups, such as meats, dairy, fruits and vegetables. Nutrient intake was compared with national and international recommendations. PRAL was determined according to the method described by Remer and Manz. Descriptive statistics and correlations were applied.


RESULTS
Dietary intake of proteins, milk and meat was high, while fruits and vegetables intake was low. PRAL was positive in 92% of the children and correlated (p<0.05) with intake of energy, proteins, fat, meat and dairy products. Protein intake was above 2.5 g/kg/day in 46.2% of the children. Food groups with the highest unbalance were meat and dairy products for excessive intake and fruits and vegetables regarding low intake, both of which represent risk factors for endogenous acid production.


CONCLUSIONS
The diet of the children studied was characterized by an excessive acid load with the risk for the generation of systemic acidosis and its metabolic consequences.
Magister in Nutrition, Nutritionist at the "Instituto de Previsión y Asistencia Social para el Personal del Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Educación" (IPASME). Carrizal, Edo Miranda. Venezuela.. jbernal@usb.ve.
Mayerling
M
López-Sayers
Doctor in Science, Magister in Nutrition, Nutritionist. Researcher and professor of the Laboratory of Nutritional Assessment. Universidad Simón Bolívar. Caracas. Venezuela.. jbernal@usb.ve.
Jennifer
J
Bernal
Pediatric Nephrologist. Department of Nephrology. Pediatric Nephrologist at the Children's Hospital JM de los Ríos. Department of Pediatrics. Centro Médico Docente La Trinidad. Caracas.Venezuela.. michellelopez@cantv.net.
Michelle
M
López
D000138:Acidosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D000143:Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology
D000143:Acids