Mumena Walaa Abdullah
Clinical Nutrition Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
Front Nutr. 2021 Nov 15;8:782853. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.782853. eCollection 2021.
Data concerning the association between free sugar intake and nutrient intake in children in the Middle East are not available. This study aimed to explore the association between the consumption of free sugar and nutrient intake among Saudi children. A cross-sectional study included 424 Saudi children ages between 6 and 12 years old and their mothers. An online survey collected sociodemographic data from mothers. Trained data collector personal contacted mothers to arrange for a phone interview in order to collect 24-h dietary recall to assess the dietary intake of children. Only 0.90% of children consumed free sugar within the recent recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO) of <5% of total energy intake, whereas 10.6% of children consumed free sugar <10% of total energy intake. The percentage of free sugar intake was negatively associated with total energy intake. Multiple linear regression analysis of free sugar consumption and nutrient intake adjusted for children's age and sex indicated that a higher percentage of free sugar intake significantly predicted lower intake of saturated fat, fiber, sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamin B. Excessive intake of free sugar predicted a lower intake of many essential nutrients. Interventions that aim to reduce the intake of free sugar are urgently needed in order to improve diet of growing children. Future research to explore top food sources of free sugar is needed to establish effective interventions that aim to limit free sugar intake among children.
中东地区儿童游离糖摄入量与营养摄入之间的关联数据尚不可得。本研究旨在探究沙特儿童游离糖消费与营养摄入之间的关联。一项横断面研究纳入了424名6至12岁的沙特儿童及其母亲。通过在线调查收集母亲的社会人口学数据。经过培训的数据收集员亲自联系母亲安排电话访谈，以收集24小时饮食回顾，评估儿童的饮食摄入量。只有0.90%的儿童游离糖摄入量在世界卫生组织（WHO）最近建议的总能量摄入量<5%的范围内，而10.6%的儿童游离糖摄入量<总能量摄入量的10%。游离糖摄入量百分比与总能量摄入量呈负相关。对游离糖消费和营养摄入进行的多元线性回归分析，在对儿童年龄和性别进行调整后表明，游离糖摄入量百分比越高，显著预示着饱和脂肪、纤维、钠、钾、钙、铁、锌和维生素B的摄入量越低。游离糖的过量摄入预示着许多必需营养素的摄入量较低。迫切需要采取旨在减少游离糖摄入量的干预措施，以改善成长中儿童的饮食。未来需要开展研究，探索游离糖的主要食物来源，以制定旨在限制儿童游离糖摄入量的有效干预措施。
