Macronutrient and micronutrient intakes of children in Oklahoma child-care centres, USA.
To determine macronutrients and micronutrients in foods served to and consumed by children at child-care centres in Oklahoma, USA and compare them with Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI).



Observed lunch nutrients compared with one-third of the age-based DRI (for 1-3 years-olds and 4-8-year-olds). Settings Oklahoma child-care centres (n 25), USA.



Children aged 3-5 years (n 415).



Regarding macronutrients, children were served 1782 (sd 686) kJ (426 (sd 164) kcal), 22·0 (sd 9·0) g protein, 51·5 (sd 20·4) g carbohydrate and 30·7 (sd 8·7) % total fat; they consumed 1305 (sd 669) kJ (312 (sd 160 kcal), 16·0 (sd 9·1) g protein, 37·6 (sd 18·5) g carbohydrate and 28·9 (sd 10·6) % total fat. For both age-based DRI: served energy (22-33 % of children), protein and carbohydrate exceeded; consumed energy (7-13 % of children) and protein exceeded, while carbohydrate was inadequate. Regarding micronutrients, for both age-based DRI: served Mg (65·9 (sd 24·7) mg), Zn (3·8 (sd 11·8) mg), vitamin A (249·9 (sd 228·3) μg) and folate (71·9 (sd 40·1) µg) exceeded; vitamin E (1·4 (sd 2·1) mg) was inadequate; served Fe (2·8 (sd 1·8) mg) exceeded only in 1-3-year-olds. Consumed folate (48·3 (sd 38·4) µg) met; Ca (259·4 (sd 146·2) mg) and Zn (2·3 (sd 3·0) mg) exceeded for 1-3-year-olds, but were inadequate for 4-8-year-olds. For both age-based DRI: consumed Fe (1·9 (sd 1·2) mg) and vitamin E (1·0 (sd 1·7) mg) were inadequate; Mg (47·2 (sd 21·8) mg) and vitamin A (155·0 (sd 126·5) µg) exceeded.



Lunch at child-care centres was twice the age-based DRI for consumed protein, while energy and carbohydrate were inadequate. Areas of improvement for micronutrients pertain to Fe and vitamin E for all children; Ca, Zn, vitamin E and folate for older pre-schoolers. Adequate nutrients are essential for development and the study reveals where public health nutrition experts, policy makers and care providers should focus to improve the nutrient density of foods.
1Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Laboratory,Department of Nutritional Sciences,College of Allied Health,University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center,1200 North Stonewall Avenue,Suite 3068,Oklahoma City,OK 73117-1215,USA.
Andrea H
AH
Rasbold
1Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Laboratory,Department of Nutritional Sciences,College of Allied Health,University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center,1200 North Stonewall Avenue,Suite 3068,Oklahoma City,OK 73117-1215,USA.
Ruth
R
Adamiec
2Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology,College of Public Health,University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center,Oklahoma City,OK,USA.
Michael P
MP
Anderson
2Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology,College of Public Health,University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center,Oklahoma City,OK,USA.
Janis E
JE
Campbell
3Early Childhood Education Institute,University of Oklahoma-Tulsa,Schusterman Center,Tulsa,OK,USA.
Diane M
DM
Horm
1Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Laboratory,Department of Nutritional Sciences,College of Allied Health,University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center,1200 North Stonewall Avenue,Suite 3068,Oklahoma City,OK 73117-1215,USA.
Leslie K
LK
Sitton
1Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Laboratory,Department of Nutritional Sciences,College of Allied Health,University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center,1200 North Stonewall Avenue,Suite 3068,Oklahoma City,OK 73117-1215,USA.
Susan B
SB
Sisson
D002648:Child; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009825:Oklahoma; D064167:Recommended Dietary Allowances
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D018977:Micronutrients
Child-care centre; Dietary Reference Intake (DRI); Lunch; Pre-school