High dietary supplement intakes among Flemish preschoolers.
Appetite. 2010 Apr; 54(2):340-5.A

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dietary supplement use among Flemish preschoolers and to investigate associations between dietary supplement use and socio-economic variables of the parents. Parentally reported 3-day estimated dietary records (n=696) were used to calculate mean daily nutrient intakes, using Software for Intake Distribution Estimation (Cside). Socio-demographic information and frequency of dietary supplement use were collected via parental questionnaires, including a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) (n=1847). The results from the FFQ revealed that more than 30% of the children used dietary supplements in the past month. Children of more highly educated parents and children of non-smokers were significantly more likely to use supplements than their counterparts. The types most frequently used were multi-vitamin/mineral supplements. Except for vitamin D, mean dietary intakes derived from foods alone was higher than the minimum recommendations for both supplement and non-supplement users. The youngest group of supplement users even exceeded the tolerable upper intake level for zinc (7 mg). However, for vitamin D, dietary supplements could help meet dietary recommendations for this micronutrient. In conclusion, the results indicated that dietary supplement use by healthy children who typically achieve their micronutrient requirements by foods alone could cause excessive intakes. Future studies should investigate potential harms and benefits of dietary supplementation use among preschoolers.

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Authors+Show Affiliations

Huybrechts I
Department of Public Health, Ghent University, University Hospital 2BlokA, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Gent, Belgium. inge.huybrechts@ugent.be
Maes L
No affiliation info available
Vereecken C
No affiliation info available
De Keyzer W
No affiliation info available
De Bacquer D
No affiliation info available
De Backer G
No affiliation info available
De Henauw S
No affiliation info available

MeSH

BelgiumChildChild Nutritional Physiological PhenomenaChild, PreschoolCluster AnalysisCross-Sectional StudiesDietDiet RecordsDietary SupplementsFemaleHumansMaleMineralsNutrition SurveysNutritional RequirementsSocioeconomic FactorsSurveys and QuestionnairesVitamins

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

20043963