Food sources of fiber and micronutrients of concern among infants and young children in Lebanon: a national cross-sectional study
Abstract Background Intakes of fiber, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin A, and folate were shown to be low in a substantial proportion of infants and children in Lebanon. The study aims to identify the top food sources of fiber, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin A, and folate amongst inf...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2024-01-01
|
| Series: | BMC Pediatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-024-04535-2 |
| _version_ | 1797349701853380608 |
|---|---|
| author | Fatima Al Zahraa Chokor Nahla Hwalla Farah Naja Lara Nasreddine |
| author_facet | Fatima Al Zahraa Chokor Nahla Hwalla Farah Naja Lara Nasreddine |
| author_sort | Fatima Al Zahraa Chokor |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Intakes of fiber, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin A, and folate were shown to be low in a substantial proportion of infants and children in Lebanon. The study aims to identify the top food sources of fiber, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin A, and folate amongst infants and young children in Lebanon and to evaluate the evolution of food sources of these nutrients from the beginning of the complementary feeding journey up until the age of 47.9 months. Methods A national cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2012 as part of the “Early Life Nutrition and Health in Lebanon” project using stratified cluster sampling. Dietary intakes for infants and young children aged 6-47.9 months (n = 763) were assessed using 24- Hour Dietary Recall. Food items were categorized into food groups and the percent contribution of each food group to nutrient intakes was determined to identify the top food sources of fiber and selected micronutrients for three age groups: 6-11.9 m (infants), 12-23.9 m (toddlers), and 24-47.9 m (preschoolers). Results The top food source of fiber was vegetables among children aged 6-47.9 months. Among infants and toddlers, infant/young child formula was the main contributor to iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin A, and folate intakes. Baby cereals also contributed to around 14% of iron intakes among infants. Among preschoolers, meat and fish contributed to 13% of iron intakes and 29% of zinc intakes, while cow’s milk was the major contributor of calcium (41%), vitamin D (81%) and vitamin A (25%) intakes. Sweetened beverages and sweet bakery were also ranked among the major food sources contributing to substantial intakes of key nutrients, including fiber, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin A, and folate among infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Conclusions In addition to milk sources, vegetables, beans and legumes, breads, meats, and rice and pasta, sweet bakery and sweetened beverages have contributed to intakes of key nutrients from early ages. This calls for implementing initiatives and designing approaches to support nutrition education and improve nutrient intakes in infancy and early childhood. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T12:34:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3253baf0e1504142b09ff036e8f4c4f3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2431 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T12:34:11Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-3253baf0e1504142b09ff036e8f4c4f32024-01-21T12:35:50ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312024-01-0124111110.1186/s12887-024-04535-2Food sources of fiber and micronutrients of concern among infants and young children in Lebanon: a national cross-sectional studyFatima Al Zahraa Chokor0Nahla Hwalla1Farah Naja2Lara Nasreddine3Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar UniversityDepartment of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of BeirutDepartment of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences (RIMHS), University of SharjahDepartment of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of BeirutAbstract Background Intakes of fiber, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin A, and folate were shown to be low in a substantial proportion of infants and children in Lebanon. The study aims to identify the top food sources of fiber, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin A, and folate amongst infants and young children in Lebanon and to evaluate the evolution of food sources of these nutrients from the beginning of the complementary feeding journey up until the age of 47.9 months. Methods A national cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2012 as part of the “Early Life Nutrition and Health in Lebanon” project using stratified cluster sampling. Dietary intakes for infants and young children aged 6-47.9 months (n = 763) were assessed using 24- Hour Dietary Recall. Food items were categorized into food groups and the percent contribution of each food group to nutrient intakes was determined to identify the top food sources of fiber and selected micronutrients for three age groups: 6-11.9 m (infants), 12-23.9 m (toddlers), and 24-47.9 m (preschoolers). Results The top food source of fiber was vegetables among children aged 6-47.9 months. Among infants and toddlers, infant/young child formula was the main contributor to iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin A, and folate intakes. Baby cereals also contributed to around 14% of iron intakes among infants. Among preschoolers, meat and fish contributed to 13% of iron intakes and 29% of zinc intakes, while cow’s milk was the major contributor of calcium (41%), vitamin D (81%) and vitamin A (25%) intakes. Sweetened beverages and sweet bakery were also ranked among the major food sources contributing to substantial intakes of key nutrients, including fiber, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin A, and folate among infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Conclusions In addition to milk sources, vegetables, beans and legumes, breads, meats, and rice and pasta, sweet bakery and sweetened beverages have contributed to intakes of key nutrients from early ages. This calls for implementing initiatives and designing approaches to support nutrition education and improve nutrient intakes in infancy and early childhood.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-024-04535-2InfantsChildrenLebanonFood sourcesFiberMicronutrients |
| spellingShingle | Fatima Al Zahraa Chokor Nahla Hwalla Farah Naja Lara Nasreddine Food sources of fiber and micronutrients of concern among infants and young children in Lebanon: a national cross-sectional study BMC Pediatrics Infants Children Lebanon Food sources Fiber Micronutrients |
| title | Food sources of fiber and micronutrients of concern among infants and young children in Lebanon: a national cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Food sources of fiber and micronutrients of concern among infants and young children in Lebanon: a national cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Food sources of fiber and micronutrients of concern among infants and young children in Lebanon: a national cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Food sources of fiber and micronutrients of concern among infants and young children in Lebanon: a national cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Food sources of fiber and micronutrients of concern among infants and young children in Lebanon: a national cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | food sources of fiber and micronutrients of concern among infants and young children in lebanon a national cross sectional study |
| topic | Infants Children Lebanon Food sources Fiber Micronutrients |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-024-04535-2 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fatimaalzahraachokor foodsourcesoffiberandmicronutrientsofconcernamonginfantsandyoungchildreninlebanonanationalcrosssectionalstudy AT nahlahwalla foodsourcesoffiberandmicronutrientsofconcernamonginfantsandyoungchildreninlebanonanationalcrosssectionalstudy AT farahnaja foodsourcesoffiberandmicronutrientsofconcernamonginfantsandyoungchildreninlebanonanationalcrosssectionalstudy AT laranasreddine foodsourcesoffiberandmicronutrientsofconcernamonginfantsandyoungchildreninlebanonanationalcrosssectionalstudy |