[Quantitative analysis of nutrient intake in children under 3 years old. ALSALMA study]

Objective: The objective of the study was to analyze the nutritional patterns of children under three years of age and to compare the results against the recommendations for energy and nutrient intake.

Patients and methods: In this cross-sectional epidemiological study, parents completed a dietary diary on their food intake of their children on 4 non-consecutive days. The percentage of children with mean intakes below the recommendations for each age and nutrient was analyzed using the "Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) cut-point method."

Results: A total of 186 pediatricians included 1701 children in the study. A total of 95.9% (n=1320) of the children between 7 and 36 months had a protein consumption more than twice that of the Recommended Daily Allowances. The deficiencies observed (% < EAR) in the age groups 13-24 months and 25-36 months, respectively, were: vitamin D in 81.7% and 92.1%; vitamin E in 39.3% and 53.4%; folic acid in 12.5% and 14.8%; calcium in 10.1% and 5.5%; iodine in 27.1% and 31%. It was observed that a higher percentage in the daily intake of proteins (P=.013) and of carbohydrates (P<.0001), and a lower percentage of total lipids (P<.0001), were related to a greater body mass index, regardless of energy intake.

Conclusions: The study presents a very detailed view of the eating patterns of Spanish children less than three years of age. The encouragement of healthy feeding should be directed towards the correction of the dietary imbalances detected, in order to promote the future health of children.