Food Intake and Dietary Adequacy among Infants from Ribeirão Preto, Sp, Brazil

Background and Aims: Infant complementary feeding may influence health and food preferences throughout life. Dietary adequacy regarding the intake of portions of food groups and macro/micronutrients was assessed in a convenience sample of 491 12-to-32-month-old children in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.

Methods: Foods and preparations were evaluated by means of the 24-hour food recall. Proportions of children with nutrient intake below or above the Brazilian recommendations were described. Chi-square test was used for analysis.

Results: Children aged 18-23 months (52%), preterm (22%), with normal weight (92.9%), girls (52.5%), and whose mothers had 9-11 years of schooling (57.4%), were predominant. There was insufficient carbohydrate and fat intake (38.5%, 29.5%), and excessive protein intake (79.8%). Adequacy of iron, vitamin C and Vitamin B12 was high (98.6%, 97.0%, 94.9%), whereas it was low for calcium and vitamin E (27.3%, 37.7%). Intake above recommendations was observed for vitamin A (43.6%) and zinc (33.6%). Infants up to 23 months showed insufficient food portion intake regarding meat, eggs (42.7%), milk group (47.7%), and excessive regarding cereal group, fat group and fruits. Children ≥24 months showed insufficient intake regarding cereal group (56.1%) and fruits (75.8%). All children showed a markedly insufficient intake of vegetables and excessive intake of sugars and sweets.

Conclusion: Children’s diet showed inadequate nutrient intake, insufficient vegetable intake and excessive intake of sugars and sweets. Low rates of inadequate intake were observed for iron and vitamin A, the more deficient micronutrients in Brazil.