Anthocyanins in the diet of children and adolescents: intake, sources and trends.

PURPOSE

Anthocyanin intake estimations in large cohorts include almost exclusively adults. For the purpose of early dietary prevention, however, it is of great interest to estimate anthocyanin intake of children and adolescents.

METHODS

Anthocyanidin content values from the USDA Database (excluding the values for bananas and nuts) were assigned to foods consumed by 4-18-year-old participants of the DONALD Study. Between 1990 and 2009, 920 participants provided 6,707 3-day weighed dietary records. Intake of anthocyanins (expressed as their aglycones anthocyanidins) and their food sources were determined. For investigating age and time trends in anthocyanidin density (mg/MJ), a polynomial mixed regression model was built.

RESULTS

We found the estimated median anthocyanidin intake to be around 6 mg/day, strawberries representing the main source. Anthocyanidin density of the diet was about 0.2 mg/MJ higher in girls than in boys, decreased with age, decreased over time in the first half of the study period and increased over time thereafter.

CONCLUSIONS

Anthocyanin intake in the young is characterised by differences in anthocyanidin density of the diet between girls and boys and by decreasing density from young childhood to adolescence. Observations in this German study population should be extended by further studies in other countries.