Dietary macro- and micro-nutrient intake among a cohort of pre-school children from southern Sri Lanka

Abstract

Objective To establish a database on dietary intake among children aged 3-5 years in southern Sri Lanka.
Methods A retrospective, quantitative method (24-hour dietary recall on 3 consecutive days) in combination with a food composition database was used to assess the nutrient intake among 248 children in Galle. Anthropometry measurements were done to assess their nutritional status.
Results There were no significant correlations between the constituents of the diet with the anthropometric parameters. The overall mean (SD) energy intake of male children 6.23 (1.3) MJ/day was significantly higher (p=0.05) than female counterparts [5.75 (1.3) MJ/day]. 44.0% (n=45) of males and 55.0% (n=57) of females had an energy intake below the recommended level. None of the females of 3 years of age met the daily energy requirement.
Conclusions The intake of energy, protein, calcium, â-carotene, vitamin D and iron was satisfactory in preschool children. Consumption of nutrients except iron and energy was better in males than in females. The dietary macro- and micro- nutrient intake by both sexes exponentially increased with age.

Key words: preschool children; dietary intake; energy intake; micro-nutrient intake

DOI: 10.4038/cmj.v55i2.1989

Ceylon Medical Journal Vol.55(2) 2010 pp.47-52