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Fat content of the diet among pre-school children in Britain; relationship with food and nutrient intakes

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 56, pages 252–263 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the percentage of energy from fat and food and nutrient intakes at 18 and 43 months of age.

Design: Diet was assessed using a 3 day unweighed food record. The children were divided into quartiles of fat intake as a percentage of energy (QFI), and food and nutrient intakes in the different QFIs were compared.

Subjects: A total of 1026 children at 18 months and 863 children at 43 months, taking part in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood, participated.

Results: At 18 months the mean (s.d.) fat intake was 31.2 (2.8) % of energy in the lowest QFI and 43.1 (2.2) % in the highest. Energy intake increased slightly with increasing QFI. The percentage of energy derived from total sugar, and in particular non-milk extrinsic sugar fell as QFI increased, as did the ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids. Intakes of retinol equivalents and zinc increased significantly with increasing QFI, while intakes of iron and most water soluble vitamins fell. There was a particularly marked fall in vitamin C intake as fat intake increased, from 11.8 mg/MJ in the lowest QFI, to 6.0 mg/MJ in the highest (P<0.001). Consumption of whole milk increased substantially with percentage energy from fat, from 51 g/MJ in the lowest QFI to 116 g/MJ in the highest (P<0.001), while consumption of fruit and fruit juice fell. The results obtained at 43 months were very similar.

Conclusions: The chances of a suboptimal intake of zinc and retinol were higher at lower fat intakes. However, intakes of the fat-soluble vitamins E and D were unrelated to fat intake and intakes of iron and vitamin C fell as fat intakes increased. Some suggestions for improving diet in this age group have been given.

Sponsor: University of Bristol.

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Acknowledgements

We are extremely grateful to all the parents and children who took part in this study and to the midwives for their help in recruiting them. We would like to acknowledge the dedicated work of the ALSPAC study team; this includes interviewers, computer technicians, clerical workers, research scientists, volunteers and managers. We would particularly like to thank the staff of the Children in Focus research clinics. Funding for this study was provided by the Northern and Yorkshire Regional Health Authority NHS Research and Development Programme on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke. The ALSPAC study could not have taken place without the financial support of the MRC, the Wellcome Trust, the Department of the Environment, MAFF, various medical charities and commercial companies. The ALSPAC study is part of the WHO initiated European Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood. The Children in Focus sub-study is, however, unique to ALSPAC.

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  1. I Rogers: Guarantor: I Rogers.

  2. I Rogers and P Emmett: Contributors: Both authors collaborated closely in producing the data and writing the paper.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Child Health, Unit of Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK

    I Rogers

  2. Division of Child Health, Unit of Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK

    P Emmett

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Correspondence to P Emmett.

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Rogers, I., Emmett, P. & and the ALSPAC Study Team. Fat content of the diet among pre-school children in Britain; relationship with food and nutrient intakes. Eur J Clin Nutr 56, 252–263 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601335

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