Abstract
We aimed to determine the usual intake of total fat, fatty acids (FAs), and their main food sources in a representative cohort of the Spanish pediatric population aged 1 to <10 years (n = 707) who consumed all types of milk and an age-matched cohort who consumed adapted milk over the last year (including follow-on formula, toddler’s milk, growing-up milk, and fortified and enriched milks) (n = 741) who were participants in the EsNuPI study (in English, Nutritional Study in the Spanish Pediatric Population). Dietary intake, measured through two 24 h dietary recalls, was compared to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UN-FAO) recommendations. Both cohorts showed a high intake of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), according to FAO recommendations, as there are no numerical recommendations for SFAs at EFSA. Also, low intake of essential fatty acids (EFAs; linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA)) and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) of the n-3 series, mainly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were observed according to EFSA and FAO recommendations. The three main sources of total fat and different FAs were milk and dairy products, oils and fats, and meat and meat products. The consumption of adapted milk was one of the main factors associated with better adherence to the nutritional recommendations of total fat, SFAs, EFAs, PUFAs; and resulted as the main factor associated with better adherence to n-3 fatty acids intake recommendations. Knowledge of the dietary intake and food sources of total fat and FAs in children could help in designing and promoting effective and practical age-targeted guidelines to promote the consumption of EFA- and n-3 PUFA-rich foods in this stage of life.
Highlights
In recent years, changes in industrialization, urbanization, economic development, and market globalization have had a drastic impact on lifestyles and dietary patterns
For both considered cohorts (SRS and Adapted Milk Consumers Cohort (AMS)), milk and dairy products, oils and fats, and meat and meat products were the main sources of total fat, saturated fatty acids (SFAs), MUFAs, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and oils and fats, milk and dairy products, meat and meat products, and fish were the main sources of major fatty acids (FAs)
This study is the first to estimate total fat and fatty acid intake in a representative cohort of Spanish children aged 1 to
Summary
Changes in industrialization, urbanization, economic development, and market globalization have had a drastic impact on lifestyles and dietary patterns. Large long-term cohort studies with follow-up and randomized clinical trials are providing strong evidence of the impact of fatty acids on health and conclude with several statements about the mechanisms by which some of them may have beneficial or adverse effects [9,10,11] Fats are precursors of biological molecules with critical metabolic functions; they are involved in the transport of fat-soluble vitamins and contribute to the integrity of cell membranes and tissue formation [12,13,14]. Fats are a prime source of energy, and provide essential fatty acids (EFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are critical for appropriate growth, cognitive development, physical activity, and prevention of NCCDs [12,15,16,17]. The brain, retina and other neural tissues are rich in PUFAs; a sufficient intake is crucial for brain and neurological development, photoreception, reproductive system in the children [18,19]
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