NutricheQ Questionnaire assesses the risk of dietary imbalances in toddlers from 1 through 3 years of age

Figures & data

Table 1 Brief description of the NutricheQ Sections 1 and 2 and meaning of the associated scores

Sections	Investigated Foods	Items (N)	Score
Section 1	Milk consumption; breakfast products, meat, fish.	4	0–1: Low risk Low probability of a poor intake of micronutrients such as iron, vitamin D, and zinc. 2–3: Moderate risk Moderate probability of a poor intake of micronutrients such as iron, vitamin D, and zinc. ≥4: High risk High probability of a poor intake of micronutrients such as iron, vitamin D, and zinc.
Section 2	Processed foods, confectionary, non-milk beverages, fruits, and vegetables	7	0–2: Low risk Low probability of an excessive intake of saturated fatty acids, sugars, and sodium. 3–5: Moderate risk Moderate probability of an excessive intake of such as saturated fatty acids, sugars, and sodium. ≥6: High risk High probability of an excessive intake of saturated fatty acids, sugars, and sodium.

Table 2 Energy and nutrient intakes in the study sample (n=201) obtained from the 3-day weighed food record

Nutrients^a	Median (IQR)	AR	AI	RI	SDT
Energy (kJ)	Males: 4539.6 (1234.3) Females: 4234.2 (983.2)	M: 3640.1–5815.8 F: 3305.4–5355.5
Proteins (g)	44.3 (15.4)
Proteins (g/kg BW)	3.3 (1.3)	0.82
Proteins (%TE)	16.5 (3.6)				<15
Carbohydrates (g)	131.8 (43.4)
Carbohydrates (%TE)	47.8 (6.7)			45–60
Sugars (g)	52.6 (22.9)
Sugars (%TE)	19.2 (7)
Fats (g)	39.9 (12.6)
Fats (%TE)	34.8 (5.7)			35–40
Saturated fatty acids (g)	12.9 (6.6)
Saturated fatty acids (%TE)	10.9 (4.1)				<10
Total fibre (g)	7.6 (4.3)
Fibre (g/4184kJ)	7.1 (3.7)		8.4
Thiamine (mg)	0.6 (0.2)	0.3
Riboflavin (mg)	1.1 (0.5)	0.4
Niacin (mg NE)	7.6 (3.9)	5
Folic acid (µg)	131.9 (77.1)	110
Vitamin A (µg RE)	573.3 (426.8)	200
Vitamin C (mg)	63.64 (55.2)	25
Vitamin D (µg)	0.98 (1.8)	10
Vitamin E (mg)	6.7 (2.4)		5
Sodium (mg)	649.3 (373.2)		700		900
Potassium (mg)	1494.5 (630)		1700
Iron (mg)	5.7 (2.4)	4
Calcium (mg)	608.3 (305)	500
Phosphorum (mg)	759.4 (282)	380
Zinc (mg)	5.9 (2.5)	4
Selenium (µg)	22.4 (14.8)	16
Fruits (g)	100 (117)
Vegetables (g)	20 (52)
Nutrients^b		Nutrients^c
Energy (kJ)	N (M)=11 (10.2%)	Fibre (g/4184kJ)	N=129 (64.2%)
	N (F)=8 (8.6%)	Thiamine (mg)	N=2 (1.0%)
Proteins (%TE)	N=140 (69.7%)	Riboflavin (mg)	N=1 (0.5%)
Carbohydrates (%TE)	N=5 (2.5%)	Niacin (mg NE)	N=34 (16.9%)
Sugars (%TE)	N=159 (79.1%)	Folic acid (µg)	N=58 (28.9%)
Fats (%TE)	N=28 (13.9%)	Vitamin A (µg RE)	N=8 (3.4%)
Saturated fatty acids (%TE)	N=124 (61.7%)	Vitamin C (mg)	N=22 (11%)
		Vitamin D (µg)	N=201 (100%)
		Vitamin E (mg)	N=29 (14.4%)
		Sodium (mg)	N=112 (55.7%)
		Potassium (mg)	N=145 (72.1%)
		Iron (mg)	N=26 (12.9%)
Table 2. (Continued)
		Nutrients^c
		Calcium (mg)	N=61 (30.3%)
		Phosphorum (mg)	N=8 (4%)
		Zinc (mg)	N=21 (10.5%)
		Selenium (µg)	N=49 (24.4%)

^aReference values for 1- to 3-year-old Italian toddlers are reported (12). ^bThe number and percentage of toddlers exceeding LARN recommendations for carbohydrates, fats, proteins, sugars, and saturated fatty acids intake. ^cThe number and percentage of toddlers who did not meet the LARN recommendations for vitamins and minerals.

Data are reported as median (IQR). 3DWFR: 3-day weighed food record. Reference values are reported as appropriate according to the LARN recommendations for 1- to 3-year-old toddlers (23). Reference intake (RI) is the recommended range for carbohydrates and fats as a percentage of total energy (TE) intake. Average requirement (AR) is the level of nutrient intake that satisfies 50% of the food requirement in a healthy population. Adequate intake (AI) indicates the recommended intake of fibres, vitamin E, sodium, and potassium. Suggested dietary target (SDT) is the suggested target (for quality and/or amount) intake for sugars and saturated fatty acids that is associated to a low risk of chronic degenerative diseases.

Table 3 Intakes of macro- and micronutrients according to the risk groups

	Low-risk group	Moderate-riskgroup	High-risk group	p
NutricheQ Section 1
Score	0–1	2–3	4–8
N	29	113	59
Carbohydrates (g)	131.0 (48.7)	134.9 (39.2)	127.7 (51.1)	0.46
Carbohydrates (%TE)	49.3 (4.6)	47.8 (7.3)	46.5 (7.3)	0.06
Proteins (g)	33.7 (14.8)	44.95 (12.1)	43.97 (17)	<0.00
Proteins (g/kgBW)	2.82 (1.4)	3.63 (1.3)	3.09 (1.13)	0.00
% Proteins (%TE)	14.7 (3.6)	16.65 (3.45)	16.98 (3.4)	0.01
Fats (g)	35.6 (9.4)	40.5 ( 12.1)	41.6 (12.3)	0.00
Fats (%TE)	33.3 (4.7)	35 (5.1)	35.6 (5.6)	0.02
Folic acid (µg)	126.85 (84.55)	140.85 (79.92)	118.08 (64.05)	0.03
Vitamin A (µg)	497.82 (258.95)	635.09 (446.84)	512.51 (393.38)	0.06
Vitamin D (µg)	4.4 (3.04)	0.9 (1.15)	0.89 (0.6)	<0.00
Vitamin E (mg)	8.26 (4.58)	6.92 (2.13)	5.88 (1.98)	<0.00
Iron (mg)	7.34 (2.6)	5.79 (2.05)	4.67 (1.9)	<0.00
Calcium (mg)	530.93 (177.23)	646.8 (368.42)	596.24 (207.9)	0.04
Potassium (mg)	111.31 (440.87)	1528.59 (555.74)	1506.93 (595.93)	<0.00
Zinc (mg)	6.37 (3.02)	6.2 (2.55)	5.45 (1.73)	0.00
NutricheQ Section 2
Score	0–2	3–5	6–14
N	60	112	29
Sugars (g)	54.25 (22.04)	52.56 (22.94)	49.14 (32.35)	0.47
Sugars (% TE)	19.2 (5.63)	19.38 (7.08)	18.14 (8.44)	0.48
Saturated fatty acids (g)	13.1 (7.75)	12.99 (6.43)	11.23 (4.79)	0.24
Saturated fatty acids (% TE)	11.11 (4.29)	11.14 (4.09)	10.55 (3.94)	0.48
Fibre (g)	9.1 (4.7)	7.5 (4.2)	6.2 (2.8)	<0.00
Fibre (g/4184 kJ)	8.5 (4.5)	7 (3.9)	5.6 (2.45)	<0.00
Thiamine (mg)	0.62 (0.18)	0.6 (0.22)	0.5 (0.17)	0.03
Riboflavin (mg)	1.21 (0.46)	1.14 (0.5)	0.95 (0.3)	0.02
Niacin (mg)	7.44 (3.29)	7.82 (4.21)	7.43 (4.06)	0.70
Folic acid (µg)	148.27 (74.93)	129.63 (81.72)	110.36 (43.39)	0.00
Vitamin C (mg)	84.8 (50.2)	59.4 (52.8)	47 (40)	<0.00
Sodium (mg)	714.58 (468.24)	637.04 (332.42)	593.2 (312.4)	0.23
Potassium (mg)	1571 (607)	1491 (610)	1194 (577)	<0.00
Calcium (mg)	649 (319)	608 (297)	432 (258)	0.00
Phosphorus (mg)	812 (283)	759 (230)	589 (267)	0.01
Fruit (g)	131 (109.6)	100 (112)	50 (93)	<0.00
Vegetables (g)	33 (67)	20 (50)	67 (33)	0.06

Intakes of macro- and micronutrients in low-, moderate-, and high-risk groups, as categorised by NutricheQ Sections 1 and 2, are reported as median (IQR). Intakes were assessed using a 3-day weighed food record. The significant differences in nutrient intakes in between-groups are reported as p-values.

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