Inadequação do consumo de nutrientes entre adolescentes brasileiros

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: to assess energy and nutrient consumption and the prevalence of inadequate micronutrient intake among Brazilian adolescents. METHODS:A random sample composed of 6,797 adolescents (49.7% girls), between 10 and 18 years old, was evaluated in the fi rst National Dietary Survey, part of the Household Budget Survey carried out in [2008][2009]. Expansion factors, sample complexity design and correction of intraindividual variability were considered. The prevalence of inadequate micronutrient intake was based on the proportion of adolescents with intake below the Estimated Average Requirement. The prevalence of intake above the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) was estimated for sodium. RESULTS:The mean energy intake ranged between 1,869 kcal (10 to 13 year old females) and 2,198 kcal (14 to 18 year old males). Of the total energy intake, 57% came from carbohydrates, 27% from lipids and about 16% from proteins. Inadequacies were higher for calcium (> 95%), phosphorous (54% to 69%) and vitamins A (66% to 85%), E (100%) and C (27% to 49%). More than 70% of adolescents reported sodium intake above the UL. CONCLUSIONS:Mean energy consumption and distribution of macronutrients were adequate, but prevalence of inadequate vitamin and mineral intake were high and notable consumption of sodium above the recommended levels, low levels of calcium consumption and, in 14 to 18 year old females, important inadequacies in iron intake were found.

Association between Nutrient Intake and Anemia in Brazilian Adolescents

“…In this study, as reported in other studies conducted in Brazil [12,38], we observed inadequate vitamin C intake (below recommended levels) in a large proportion of adolescents, possibly reflecting the insufficient consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables characteristic of Brazilian adolescents [36]. According to the Household Budget Survey 2008-2009 [36], which was developed at a national scale, the recommended daily intake of fruit and vegetables of 400 g [39] was not achieved even in the 90th percentile of the population of young Brazilians.…”

“…However, among those aged 14-19 years, the prevalence of inadequate iron intake was similar to that observed in boys and girls in southeastern Brazil (6.3 and 20.8%, respectively) [36] and across Brazil (11.8 and 25.0%, respectively) [12]. The higher prevalence of inadequate iron intake observed in adolescents between 14 and 19 years is particularly worrying because it increases the risk of developing iron deficiency anemia in a period of life during which the vulnerability to the illness is naturally higher due to the significant increase in daily iron requirements because of rapid growth and muscle mass increases in boys and the onset of the menstrual cycle in girls [37].…”

“…In this study, the prevalence of inadequate iron intake was almost nonexistent among adolescents between 11 and 13 years old and was much lower than that observed nationally (8.5% in boys and 10.7% in girls) [12] and in southeastern Brazil (5% in both sexes) [36], where the same methodology applied in this study was used. However, among those aged 14-19 years, the prevalence of inadequate iron intake was similar to that observed in boys and girls in southeastern Brazil (6.3 and 20.8%, respectively) [36] and across Brazil (11.8 and 25.0%, respectively) [12].…”

“…These methods have also been used in studies of adolescents in Brazil and other countries [12,31,35]. However, in many other studies, the Institute of Medicine recommendations for individual consumption (recommended dietary allowances-RDA) [11] or the values recommended by local guidelines [26,29] were used instead.…”

“…In Brazil, although the low intake of iron and other nutrients by adolescents has been demonstrated in local [10,11] and national studies [12], few investigations have aimed to clarify the relationship between anemia and nutrient intake. In 7- to 14-year-old students attending public schools in a city in northeastern Brazil, Borges et al [13] found that the chance of developing anemia was 1.57 times higher (95% CI 1.07-2.29) for individuals consuming 50-99.9% of the recommended bioavailable iron and 1.68 times higher (95% CI 1.10-2.56) for individuals consuming less than 50% of the recommended value compared to adolescents who consumed adequate amounts of bioavailable iron.…”