Food habits and nutrient intake in childhood in relation to health and socio-economic conditions. A Swedish Multicentre Study 1980-81.

In Sweden a multicentre nutritional survey was performed in 1980-81 in four different parts of Sweden. The total number of children investigated was 1109, of whom 92 were two years old, 332 four years, 338 eight years and 347 thirteen years. The 24-hour recall method was used in all children. In addition 7-day record was used in the 2-, 4- and 8-year-olds and the dietary history method in the 13-year-olds. During the weekdays the 2-, 4-, 8- and 13-year-old children had 5.9, 5.8, 5.4 and 5.2 meals and snacks per day, respectively. During weekends these respective numbers decreased to 5.7, 5.6, 5.1 and 5.0. The mean number of light meals and snacks was almost the same on all days and varied between 2.4 and 3.3 in the different age groups. The part of the energy intake deriving from snacks has increased during the last 15 years. The mean daily energy intakes for the 2-, 4-, 8- and 13-year-old boys and girls were 5.8 and 5.6, 6.9 and 6.5, 8.9 and 7.9 and 12.1 and 9.7 MJ respectively. These values are below the recommendations for all age groups except the 2-year-old boys. The mean daily intakes of protein, retinol, ascorbic acid, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B12 and calcium were almost invariably higher or much higher than the recommendations, while those of vitamin D and zinc were below the recommended values. The iron intake fulfilled the recommendations except for the 2-year-olds and the 13-year-old girls. The intake of protein and fat expressed in per cent of the total energy intake was very similar in all age groups, about 14 per cent and 35-37 per cent respectively. The mean ratio between polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids (P/S ratio) was also the same in all age groups, i.e. 0.22-0.23. This low ratio is explained by a high consumption of dairy products. Furthermore, the nutrient density of the food did not change appreciably with age. The only exception was found for the 2-year-old children, who had slightly higher nutrient density values on account of a relatively high consumption of fortified follow-up formula. In all age groups the mean nutrient densities of vitamins D and B6 and of iron were below the recommendations to varying degrees. No clinical signs of nutritional deficiencies, iron deficiency included, were found in any age group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)