Abstract
We here report on the effects of the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) for 2991 randomly recruited poor preschool children, from 59 areas nationwide. Total nutrient intake, nutrient density, and intake from foods available from WIC were assessed by quantitative 24 hour diet recall. Differences between current WIC recipients (n=711), past recipients (n=637), and controls (n=762) were adjusted for age and sex, and also for social and demographic characteristics, and height. Current WIC benefits strongly and significantly affected the quality of diet, with little residuum from past WIC participation. Current WIC recipients ate no more calories or protein, but significantly more iron, thiamin, niacin, Vit. B6 and Vit. C than controls. Current WIC recipients ate 30% (3 mg) more iron, with greatest differences under one year of age. Increased intake of other micronutrients was more evenly distributed throughout the preschool years. AFDC and WIC were both associated with better diet, but WIC was particularly important for children not receiving AFDC. WIC improved black and hispanic children's diets more than that of non hispanic whites.
Observed differences are minimal estimates, given likely measurement error in this large scale field study, and since controls were more socially privileged than WIC recipients (they were nearly a cm. taller). We conclude that the WIC program has a marked beneficial effect on the diets of currently enrolled preschool children.
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Rush, D., Leighton, J. THE RELATIONSHIP OF WIC BENEFITS TO THE DIETS OF PRESCHOOL CHIDREN: THE NATIONAL WIC EVALUATION. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 210 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00704
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00704