Our findings in children and adolescents clearly show a better comparability of real 24h-UIE with est24h-UIEcrea than with UIC. Whenever highest possible validity is required for iodine status assessment from spot urine sampling, the determination of est24h-UIEcrea appears to be the more accurate monitoring approach.

No abstract

This study revealed inadequate fruit/vegetable intake among the study sample. For compliance with global recommendations, interventions promoting fruit/vegetable intake are needed.

Objective: Our objective was to assess the distribution of energy, macro-and micronutrient intakes by meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner and combined snacks) in a cross-sectional sample of schoolchildren. Design: Cross-sectional dietary survey in schoolchildren. Setting: Twelve private and public schools in the urban setting of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. Subjects: A total of 449 schoolchildren (from higher and lower socio-economic strata) were enrolled in the study. Methods: Each child completed a single, pictorial 24 h prospective diary and a face-to-face interview to check completeness and estimate portion sizes. Estimated daily intakes were examined by mealtime as: (i) absolute intakes; (ii) relative nutrient distribution; and (iii) critical micronutrient density (i.e. nutrient density in relation to the WHO Recommended Nutrient Intakes/median age-specific Guatemalan energy requirements). Results: The daily distribution of energy intake was 24 % at breakfast, 30 % at lunch, 23 % at dinner and 23 % among snacks. Lunch was also the leading meal for macronutrients, providing 35 % of proteins, 27 % of fat and 30 % of carbohydrate. The distribution of selected micronutrients did not follow the pattern of energy, insofar as lunch provided relatively more vitamin C and Zn, whereas breakfast led in terms of vitamins A and D, thiamin, riboflavin, folate, Ca and Fe. Conclusions: Meal-specific distribution of energy, macro-and micronutrients provides a unique and little used perspective for evaluation of children's habitual intake, and may provide guidance to strategies to improve dietary balance in an era of coexisting energy overnutrition and micronutrient inadequacy. Keywords Meal pattern Macronutrients Micronutrients Schoolchildren GuatemalaDietary intake is a major determinant of both the nutritional status and the general health and well-being of an individual. An optimal diet will supply adequate -but not excessive -amounts of all essential nutrients, while maximizing foods and dietary substances that promote long-term health and avoiding dietary constituents related to ill health (1) . Both greater dietary variety (number of different foods and beverages consumed) and dietary diversity (selection from an array of food groups) are associated with more nutritious and more healthful intake patterns (2) . What is an inherent reality is that foods are consumed in various meals and meal settings over the course of a day. Moreover, factors of household economics, cultural and culinary conventions and personal convenience will dictate the frequency, size and composition of the meals consumed throughout the day. A few investigators have analysed individual meal contributions to the day's intake of macro-or micronutrients. These pioneering studies identified dietary patterns that deviate strongly from recommended population nutrient goals in children (3)(4)(5) , adolescents (6,7) and adults (8) . The studies on children and adolescents are mostly European studies. The findings emphasize the difference in nutritional v...