Dietary intake and food sources of calcium and vitamin D in young children in the Guelph Family Health Study

Abstract

Canadian research on dietary intake of calcium and vitamin D in young children is limited. This cross-sectional analysis investigated dietary intake and food sources of calcium and vitamin D among 265 preschool-aged children (3.6 ± 1.2 years) in the Guelph Family Health Study via one 24-h dietary recall completed by their parents using the Automated Self-Administered 24-H Dietary Assessment Tool 2016-Canadian version. Median intakes of calcium and vitamin D were 827 mg d−1 [Interquartile range (IQR) = 522] and 4.0 μg d−1 (IQR = 3.6), respectively. The two most frequently consumed dairy food sources for both nutrients were fluid cow's milk (78%, n = 206) and cheese (60%, n = 160), whereas the most frequently consumed non-dairy food sources for calcium were fruits (92%, n = 243), bakery products (92%, n = 243), and water (92%, n = 243), and for vitamin D it was bakery products (74%, n = 196). Findings raise concern about low intakes of calcium and vitamin D in young Canadian children.