Abstract
Objective:The main objective of this study was to determine the amount and type of fat consumed by early school-age children per day. Dietary fat intake as a percentage of the total calorie intake was also estimated.Methods:The study was conducted in Lublin, the largest city in south-east Poland, between January 2014 and April 2014, on 702 randomly selected children, i.e. 3% of the total population of early school-age children in the research area. The parents were asked to provide information about the type and amount of food consumed by their children daily. A standard food frequency questionnaire was used.Results:Dietary levels of saturated fat were elevated in the analyzed populations and were the source of 13.33% of daily calorie intake. In the studied population, the ratio of saturated to monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids was determined at 3.25: 2.95: 1. Dietary intake of α-linolenic acid (ALA) reached 1.057 ± 0.55 g (0.63% of daily calorie intake) on average, and dietary intake of linoleic acid (LA) was determined at 3.86 ± 2.51 g (2.31% of daily calorie intake).Conclusions:The average total calorie intake of children aged 6-11 years was 1445.66 calories per day. Average fat intake was 29.64 % of the total calorie intake. The highest intake of SFAs was found in the youngest age group of 6- to 8-year-olds. The type of food consumed by children affected the amount and type of dietary fat in all age groups.
Highlights
Nutrition and a balanced diet are the key factors that influence healthy growth and development of children, next to physical activity
MUFAs and PUFAs had a similar share of the daily diet in Polish children from different age groups[16], but it was much lower than in the diets of children living in the Mediterranean countries
Average fat intake was 29.64 % of the total calorie intake, and SFAs accounted for 13.33%
Summary
Nutrition and a balanced diet are the key factors that influence healthy growth and development of children, next to physical activity. Correspondence: March 4, 2015 June 4, 2015 July 28, 2015 September 1, 2015 September 8, 2015 saturated to monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diet plays a major role in the development of life-style diseases.[1] The amount of energy provided by dietary fats should be kept within a healthy limit, and children’s diets should provide 30% of energy from fat. Diets should be rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, but low in trans fats.[2,3] The daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids should range from 0.5 to 2% of total calories consumed.[4] Essential fatty acid deficiencies are believed to affect the maturation of the central nervous system, and fat restriction may impede growth and deprive children of nutrients such as fat-soluble vitamins. Parents who wish to restrict fat intake should be warned of the potential for delayed growth when fat intake is less than 20 percent of calories 2,5
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