title: Dietary survey of anaemic infants and young children in urban areas of China: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the diet characteristics of anaemic infants and young children of China, blood tests and diets surveys were conducted in five cities.
  
  
  METHODS
  About 150 children aged 6-36 mo were selected in a typical community health center of each city, and the total sample was 750. Nutritional status was measured through 24h dietary recall method and HEMO Cue was used for Haemoglobin concentration testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average prevalence of anaemia was 17.2% in 6-12 mo children, which was higher than in other age groups. Median intakes of 8 nutrients (protein, vitamin A, B-1 and C, calcium, iron, zinc and copper) in anaemic children were less than non-anaemic children (p<0.05) in 6-12 mo olds; at age 12-24 mo the intake of vitamin A in anaemic children was less than in non-anaemic children (p<0.05). Market complementary food was the main source of iron in both anaemic and non-anaemic children (6-12 mo olds: 2.28 and 3.69 mg; 12-24 mo olds: 2.06 and 2.09 mg, respectively). Iron intake from formula was lower in anaemic children than in nonanaemic children (6-12 mo olds: 0.88 vs 2.54 mg; 12-24 mo olds: 1.59 vs 2.87 mg). The proportion of children obtaining continued breastfeeding in anaemic children was significantly higher than in non-anaemic children aged 6-12 mo (65% vs 37%, p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Appropriate practices around continuing breastfeeding and complementary feeding particularly targeted to breast fed older infants and young children are needed to reduce anaemia in infants and young children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Early Child Development, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ni
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Department of Early Child Development, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Shuaiming
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Early Child Development, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Early Child Development, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zangwen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Early Child Development, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Early Child Development, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Early Child Development, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Caihong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Early Child Development, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Aihua
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Danone Nutricia Early Life Nutrition, Asia Pacific, R and D, Singapore.
authors.forename: Jacques G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Bindels
authors.affiliation: Department of Early Child Development, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China. Email: yh.dai@126.com.
authors.forename: Yaohua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dai
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D014505:Urban Population; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D014815:Vitamins; D014801:Vitamin A