Nutrient adequacies in mexican children

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe the reported energy, nutrient intake and adequacies in mexican children. We studied a national probabilistic sample of 3705 from 12 to 59 months of age in the National Survey of Health and Nutrition 2006 in Mexico (ENSANUT‐2006). A 7‐days semi‐quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used. Nutrient adequacies were estimated using the Dietary Reference Intakes and stratified according to area (urban or rural) and socioeconomic status (SES). SES was determined by household characteristics and possessions of goods and divided into tertiles (low, middle and high). Intake and dietary inadequacy risk (adequacy <50%) were estimated.Our results revealed that energy, macro and micro‐nutrient adequacies were lower in rural (RA) than in urban areas (UA). The risk of inadequacy (RI) in rural areas was: Energy: 16.5% RA vs 7.4% UA, vitamin A: 21.4% RA vs 10.6% UA, folate:17% RA vs 13.8 UA and calcium: 18.2% RA vs 11.2% UA.The RI was higher in the low SES: Energy: 14.9%, vitamin A: 18.4%, folate:17.7% and calcium: 18.3%. The RI iron was lower (<5%) in all areas and SES. However 1.6% of the median national total iron intake provides from to heme iron.Mexico is experiencing a inequalities across areas and socioeconomic status. This information can contribute to the decision making to focus the beneficiaries of food programs, using indicators of available and access to foods.