Total Usual Nutrient Intakes of US Children (Under 48 Months): Findings from the Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS) 2016

Abstract

BackgroundThe US Dietary Guidelines will expand in 2020 to include infants and toddlers. Understanding current dietary intakes is critical to inform policy.ObjectiveThe purpose of this analysis was to examine the usual total nutrient intakes from diet and supplements among US children.MethodsThe Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study 2016 is a national cross-sectional study of children aged <48 mo (n = 3235): younger infants (birth to 5.9 mo), older infants (6–11.9 mo), toddlers (12–23.9 mo), younger preschoolers (24–36.9 mo), and older preschoolers (36–47.9 mo) based on the use of a 24-h dietary recall. A second 24-h recall was collected from a representative subsample (n = 799). Energy, total nutrient intake distributions, and compliance with Dietary Reference Intakes were estimated with the use of the National Cancer Institute method.ResultsDietary supplement use was 15–23% among infants and toddlers and 35–45% among preschoolers. Dietary intakes of infants were adequate, with mean intakes exceeding Adequate Intake for all nutrients except vitamins D and E. Iron intakes fell below the Estimated Average Requirement for older infants (18%). We found that 31–33% of children aged 12–47.9 mo had low percentage of energy from total fat, and >60% of children aged 24–47.9 mo exceeded the saturated fat guidelines. The likelihood of nutrient inadequacy for many nutrients was higher for toddlers: 3.2% and 2.5% greater than the Adequate Intake for fiber and potassium and 76% and 52% less than the Estimated Average Requirement for vitamins D and E, respectively. These patterns continued through older ages. Intakes exceeded the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of sodium, retinol, and zinc across most age groups.ConclusionsDietary intakes of US infants are largely nutritionally adequate; concern exists over iron intakes in those aged 6–11.9 mo. For toddlers and preschoolers, high intake of sodium and low intakes of potassium, fiber, and vitamin D and, for preschoolers, excess saturated fat are of concern. Excess retinol, zinc, and folic acid was noted across most ages, especially among supplement users.

Dietary intake from complementary feeding is associated with intestinal barrier function and environmental enteropathy in Brazilian children from the MAL-ED cohort study

“…A national cross-sectional study with US children showed similar results to those found in the present study, with adequate micronutrient intake for most of the nutrients and low fibre intake, for young children (73) . The US population also has a high intake of ultra-processed foods (74) , and despite the socioeconomic differences with Brazil, this intake may have contributed to the low nutrient inadequacies observed in both countries.…”

Dairy Intake Would Reduce Nutrient Gaps in Chinese Young Children Aged 3–8 Years: A Modelling Study

“…Children require sufficient nutrients to meet the need for rapid growth and development [2]. Many studies around the world focus on evaluating nutrient intakes and their adherence to recommended reference values among young children [3][4][5][6]. Bailey et al [3] reported that 79% and 30% of 3-4-year-old US children consumed less than the estimated average requirement (EAR) for vitamins D and E, respectively, although their intakes of most other nutrients were largely adequate.…”

Usual Nutrient Intakes from the Diets of US Children by WIC Participation and Income: Findings from the Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS) 2016

“…Paradoxically, in this age group, iron intakes were only of concern for the higher-income nonparticipants. The results might be different if iron intake from dietary supplements was included, but iron supplement use was very low (5%) among this age group ( 34 ). Meanwhile, WIC participation was associated with higher compliance with sodium and added-sugars guidelines, with no significant differences noted in compliance with potassium or fiber guidelines.…”