Original Article

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2006) 60, 1100–1107. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602424; published online 15 March 2006

Polyunsaturated fatty acids and anthropometric indices of children in rural China

Guarantor: MT Clandinin.

Contributors: BNB was responsible for data collection, analysis and writing the paper; NDW and MTC gave advice on data collection and writing the paper; LW aided in study logistics and data collection.

B N Barbarich1, N D Willows1,2, L Wang3 and M T Clandinin1,2,4

  1. 1Alberta Institute for Human Nutrition, 823 General Services Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
  2. 2Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
  3. 3Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
  4. 4Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Correspondence: BN Barbarich, Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Alberta, 4-10 AgFor Bldg, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2P5. E-mail: bobbibarbarich@capitalhealth.ca

Received 12 May 2005; Revised 23 December 2005; Accepted 25 January 2006; Published online 15 March 2006.

Top

Abstract

Objective:

 

To define fatty acid and macronutrient intakes in a rural Chinese preschool population, and relate these intakes to anthropometric indices.

Design:

 

Cross-sectional survey of anthropometry and diet (three 24-h recalls). National Centers for Health Statistics/World Health Organization growth reference charts were used to determine the prevalence of malnutrition (z-scores less than -2 standard deviation (s.d.) below the mean): height-for-age (stunted), weight-for-age (underweight), weight-for-height (wasted) and mid-upper-arm-circumference-for-age (low fat/muscle).

Subjects and setting:

 

A total of 196 children aged 1–5 years old were volunteered by their families to participate in the survey, located in Heqing County, Yunnan Province, China.

Results:

 

The respective prevalence of stunting, underweight, wasting and low fat/muscle was: 38, 21, 2 and 8%. Daily intakes of linoleic acid (LA; 18:2n-6), alpha-linolenic acid (LNA; 18:3n-3), arachidonic acid (AA; 20:4n-6) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3), averaged for all children, were 2 100plusminus1200, 300plusminus250, 55plusminus35 and 30plusminus140 mg/day, respectively. As percent of total fat intake, LA contributed 11.9%, LNA 1.8%, AA 0.3% and DHA 0.2%. Height-for-age and weight-for-age z-scores were negatively correlated with g/kg/day intake of LA and AA (P<0.05). Weight-for-height z-score was negatively correlated with AA g/kg/day intake (P<0.05).

Conclusions:

 

This study provided polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) intakes in rural preschool children in a developing country. The associations of PUFA intake with early childhood growth suggest that growth in preschool-aged children could be significantly and specifically related to n-6 fatty acid intakes.

Sponsorship:

 

ECOFund and NSERC.

Keywords:

essential fatty acids, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, nutritional status, preschool children, dietary intake

Extra navigation

.

naturejobs

More science jobs
Post a job for free
ADVERTISEMENT