Fruit and Vegetable Intake Patterns and Their Associations with Sociodemographic Characteristics, Anthropometric Status and Nutrient Intake Profiles among Malaysian Children Aged 1-6 Years.

Shoo Lee,Swee Ng,Bee Poh,Ilse Khouw,Kar Chong

doi:10.3390/nu9080723

Shoo Lee, Swee Ng + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9080723

Copy DOI

Abstract

This study aimed to assess fruit and vegetable intake patterns and their associations with sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometric status and nutrient intake profiles among Malaysian children aged 1–6 years. Using the Malaysian dataset of South East Asian Nutrition Surveys (SEANUTS Malaysia), a total of 1307 children aged 1–6 years with complete datasets were included in this analysis. Dietary intake was assessed using age-specific, validated food frequency questionnaires. On average, Malaysian children consumed 0.91 and 1.07 servings of fruits and vegetables per day, respectively. Less than one-fifth of the children achieved the daily recommended servings of fruits (11.7%) and vegetables (15.8%). Fruit intake was associated with age, parental educational level and geographical region, and vegetable intake was associated with ethnicity and geographical region. There was little evidence of an association between fruit and vegetable intake and children’s anthropometric status, but an adequate intake of fruits and vegetables contributed significantly and differently to children’s micronutrient intake. Future nutrition interventions should focus on addressing the sociodemographic determinants and be tailored to the needs of the low consumers to more effectively promote and encourage the adequate intake of fruit and vegetables among young children.

Highlights

Fruits and vegetables have been recognised as the key components of a healthy diet because of their high levels of health-promoting nutrients and bioactive compounds, including vitamins, minerals, fibres and phytochemicals [1]
Fruit intake was found to be associated with age, parental educational level and geographical region, and vegetable intake was associated with ethnicity and geographical region
This study revealed that the majority of Malaysian children still fall short of achieving the dietary recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake

Summary

Introduction

Fruits and vegetables have been recognised as the key components of a healthy diet because of their high levels of health-promoting nutrients and bioactive compounds, including vitamins, minerals, fibres and phytochemicals [1]. In children and adolescents, emerging but as yet inconclusive evidence exists for the protective effect of fruit and vegetable intake on adiposity or obesity [6,7]. Despite their well-documented health benefits, the intake of fruits and vegetables remains low worldwide, among children and adolescents. In the United States, approximately 60% of children and adolescents did not meet the recommended servings for fruit, despite a significant increase (12%) in total fruit intake from 2003 to 2010.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion