Fifteen year trends in water intake in German children and adolescents: results of the DONALD Study. Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed Study.

UNLABELLED

Water intake was evaluated and time trends in water intake and beverage consumption were assessed on the basis of 3 d weighed dietary records (n = 3,736) of 2-13-y-old males (n = 354) and females (n = 379) enrolled in the DONALD Study (Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed Study, 1985-1999). Total water intake increased with age from 1,114 g d(-1) in the 2-3-y-olds to 1,363 g d(-1) in the 4-8-y-olds and further to 1,801 g d(-1) (1,676 g d(-1)) in the 9-13-y-old boys (girls); 33-38% came from food, 49-55% from beverages and 12-13% from oxidation. Total water intake per body weight decreased with age from 77.5 g kg(-1) (boys and girls) to 48.9 and 42.6 g kg(-1) in boys and girls, respectively. Milk (9-17%) and mineral water (12-15%) were the most important source of total water intake. In the 15 y period a significant increase in total water intake (+1.7 to +3.2 g MJ(-1) y(-1)) in all three age groups irrespective of sex was found. The increase of total water intake was mainly due to an increase in beverage consumption (+0.32 to +0.47% y(-1)). This study offers a differentiated insight into water intake and patterns of beverage consumption in German children and adolescents.

CONCLUSION

The comparison of these data with other surveys points to a low total water intake, especially a low tap water intake, in German children and adolescents and underlines cultural influences on food and drinking habits.