Nutrient intake in aging infants and toddlers: 3-year follow-up of the Nutrintake study

Abstract

We performed a 3-year follow-up of the children enrolled into the Nutrintake Study to evaluate the changes of anthropometry and nutrient intake in aging infants and toddlers. Nutrient intake was assessed using a 7-day weighted food-diary. Of the 390 Nutrintake children, 164 (42%) participated in the present study. Their median (IQR) age was 54 (48; 66) months and their anthropometrical status, expressed as standard deviation scores, remained stable during the follow-up. During the same period, there was no biologically relevant change in the intake of macronutrients expressed as percentage of energy while median increases of 757 mg/day, 0.7 mg/day and 3.1 g/1000 kcal per day were detected for sodium, iron and fibre, respectively. As compared to the Italian reference standards, the Nutrintake children continued to show at the 3-year follow-up an excessive intake of simple carbohydrates, proteins, sodium, and a low intake of iron and fibre.

Keywords:

• Epidemiology
• cohort study
• children
• nutrients
• food records

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the families of the children who took part to the study. The authors are very grateful to the family paediatricians who enrolled the children in Nutrintake 1 and/or Nutrintake 2 (Silvia De Carlis, Elena Piacentini, Alberto Pedone, Maria Veronica Cunietti, Gino Miano, Annamaria Santangelo, Gaetano Bottaro, Giuseppe Patanè, Loredana Caltabiano, Maria Donatella Centamore, Raffaele Santomauro). The authors thank the Associazione Italiana Dietisti (ANDID) for help with the selection of study dietitians. The authors thank the dietitian Patrizia Gnagnarella (European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy) for sharing with us her experience with food composition analysis. The authors are forever indebted with Dr Elisabetta Vacca for her unremitting support to the Nutrintake 1 and 2 studies: she knows what it means to put one’s skin in the game.

Authors’ contributions

GVZ performed the study design, study coordination, manuscript revision. CC performed the study design, dietary and anthropometric assessment, manuscript revision. AM carried out the study design, dietary and anthropometric assessment, manuscript revision. MCC carried out the study design, dietary and anthropometric assessment, manuscript revision. CM worked on study design, manuscript revision. ET performed the study design, food database management, manuscript revision. SS performed the study design, manuscript revision. GB performed the study design, statistical analysis, software programming, manuscript drafting, manuscript revision.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The Nutrintake 2 Study was supported by an educational grant from Mellin SPA (Milan, Italy). The study grant was managed in its entirety by the Ethical Committe of ASST Fatebenefratelli-Saccco Milan, Italy. The Sponsor had no role in the design and conduct of the study; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data; or in the preparation and review of the manuscript.