Produtos processados e ultraprocessados e ingestão de nutrientes em crianças

Abstract

Objective: To assess the consumption of processed and ultra-processed food products among children of low socio-economic status and its influence on energy, macronutrient, sodium and fiber intake. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included data from children aged 7-8 who participated in a randomized field trial conducted in São Leopoldo, Brazil. Socio-economic and family data were collected and two 24-hour dietary recalls were conducted. The children’s consumption of processed food products was evaluated by classifying the foods by the degree of processing used in their production. The amounts in grams and estimated energy of the food products were obtained and the tertiles of the percentage of total dietary energy coming from these products were used in the analyses. Results: Data from 307 children were evaluated. The average dietary energy provided by the food products was 48.6% of the total energy consumed by the children. Among the children in the highest tertile of energy coming from food products, energy, carbohydrate, total fat, saturated fat and sodium intake was higher than in the other tertiles while protein and fiber intake was lower (p<0.05). Conclusions: Among schoolchildren of low socio-economic status, processed and ultra-processed food product consumption represented approximately 50% of daily energy intake, suggesting a risk for developing obesity and related diseases as the consumption of these products has been linked to diets higher in energy, fat and sodium and lower in protein and fiber.