Dietary Patterns of Infants and Toddlers Are Associated with Nutrient Intakes |
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Authors: | Lisa G Smithers Rebecca K Golley Laima Brazionis Pauline Emmett Kate Northstone John W Lynch |
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Institution: | 1. Discipline of Public Health, School of Population Health, University of Adelaide, Mail Drop DX650550, Adelaide 5005, South Australia, Australia; Email: (L.B.); (J.W.L.);2. Sansom Institute for Health Research, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide 5000, South Australia, Australia; Email: ;3. School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS82BN, UK; Email: (P.E.); (K.N.) |
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Abstract: | Dietary patterns are a useful summary measure of diet. Few studies have examined the nutrient profiles underpinning the dietary patterns of young children. The study aim is to determine whether dietary patterns at 6 and 15 months of age are associated with nutrient intakes at 8 and 18 months, respectively. Participants were children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children who had complete dietary pattern and nutrient intake data (n = 725 at 6–8 months, n = 535 at 15–18 months). The association between tertiles of dietary pattern scores and nutrient intake was examined using a non-parametric test for trend. Scores on the home-made traditional pattern (6–8 months) were positively associated with median energy intake. Each dietary pattern had different associations with energy-adjusted intakes of macro- and micro-nutrients. At both times, the discretionary pattern was positively and the ready-prepared baby foods pattern was negatively associated with sodium intake. At 6–8 months, calcium and iron intakes decreased across scores on the home-made traditional and breastfeeding patterns, but increased across the ready-prepared baby food patterns. These findings highlight that dietary patterns in infants and toddlers vary in their underlying energy and nutrient composition. |
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Keywords: | dietary patterns infants toddlers nutrient intake ALSPAC |
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