Plant-based diets and body composition in Chinese omnivorous children aged 6–9 years old: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Evidence suggests that plant-based diets are beneficial for alleviating metabolic diseases. Childhood is a crucial period for body growth and development. However, it is unknown whether adherence to a plant-based diet is related to a healthy body composition in children. We aimed to assess the relationship between a plant-based diet and body composition in children. A total of 452 Chinese children aged 6–9 years old participated in this cross-sectional study. Lean mass (LM), fat mass, and fat mass percentage (FMP) were assessed via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. An age- and sex-specific abdominal FMP ≥85th percentile was defined as abdominal obesity. Handgrip strength was measured using a hydraulic hand dynamometer. A validated 79-item food frequency questionnaire was used to collect dietary information. Overall plant-based diet index (PDI), healthful plant-based diet index (hPDI), and unhealthful plant-based diet index (uPDI) scores were calculated. After adjusting for potential covariates, a higher hPDI score (per 10-score increment) was associated with a higher LM in the android area (0.038 kg, 3.2%), gynoid area (0.048 kg, 1.9%), and trunk (0.102 kg, 1.2%) and with a lower FMP (1.18%) in the android area. In contrast, a higher uPDI score (per 10-score increment) was associated with a lower LM in the trunk (0.091 kg, 1.1%) and android area (0.023 kg, 1.9%) and with a higher FMP (0.74%) in the android area. No significant associations were observed between the overall PDI and body composition or abdominal obesity. After stratifying by sex, higher (vs. lower) hPDI scores was associated with lower abdominal obesity risk in girls and higher handgrip strength in boys. In conclusion, in this cross-sectional study, we found that stronger adherence to a healthful plant-based diet, and less adherence to an unhealthful plant-based diet was associated with better body composition in Chinese omnivorous children aged 6–9 years old. Our results highlight the need to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy plant foods within investigating how to obtain a healthy body composition in children.

Cross-sectional study of characteristics of body composition of 24,845 children and adolescents aged 3–17 years in Suzhou

“…These changes may be explained by the significant increase in physical activity and the accompanying increase in skeletal muscle mass over 3 years old. In the present study, PBF in girls were higher than that in boys in every age group, except for the 9- and 10-years old groups (all P < 0.05), which was in line with F F Chen’s results conducted in seven cities of China [ 30 ]. PBF and FMI increase rapidly again in girls aged 7–9 years, which is closely associated with the onset of puberty.…”

“…The changes in body composition of boys aged 9–17 years were previously assessed using DXA in a study conducted in Colombia, where it was shown that FMI continues to decrease at this age. F F Chen [ 30 ] also reported FMI decreased obviously between 10-15 years old in boys. Unlike the age group and change characteristics from the above researches, in the present study, the FMI of boys continues to decline at the age of 11–14, subsequently increased transiently at 14–15 years old and then decreased rapidly.…”

Plant-Based Dietary Indices in Relation to Nutrient and Food Group Intakes in Preschool-Aged Children

“…The food group intakes accounted for in these nutrient intakes show that participants who have higher oPDI have higher intakes of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes, and lower intakes of dairy and meat. The majority of PDI studies have been conducted in adults and focus on health outcomes; however, Chen et al studied children aged 6-9 years living in China [31]. Their food group results show that participants with higher overall plant intake have higher intakes of healthy plant foods and also some less healthy plant foods, although statistical comparisons are not completed and nutrient intakes are not reported [31].…”

“…The majority of PDI studies have been conducted in adults and focus on health outcomes; however, Chen et al studied children aged 6-9 years living in China [31]. Their food group results show that participants with higher overall plant intake have higher intakes of healthy plant foods and also some less healthy plant foods, although statistical comparisons are not completed and nutrient intakes are not reported [31]. Other PDI studies that have examined nutrient intakes report higher PDI scores in relation to higher intakes of carbohydrates [32,33], polyunsaturated fat [33], dietary fiber and vitamin B 6 [32,33], folate [32], vitamin C [33,34], and magnesium [32,33], and lower intakes of protein [15,21,33,34], total fat [15,33,34], saturated fat [15,33,34], cholesterol, vitamin B 6 , vitamin B 12 , calcium, and magnesium [15,33], although all of these studies were conducted in Iranian adults, except for one that was in South Korean adults [21].…”

Association between lean mass and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A meta- analysis

“…Considering the prevalence of AIS is higher in female than male and men's lean mass is higher than women's in both AIS patients and healthy people [31,32], we assumed sex as one source of the heterogeneity. And the result of female subgroup meta analysis showed the mean difference of lean mass between AIS patients and control group in this subgroup analysis was greater than the meta analysis, and the heterogeneity decreased in this subgroup.…”