Nutrient intake of South Asian children compared with UK recommendation

Abstract

South Asians represent the largest ethnic minority group in the UK and have been reported to have greater risk of chronic diseases compared with Caucasians(1). South Asians also experience the double burden of malnutrition, and also presenting deficiencies as well as over-nutrition(2). Because early nutrition is one of major determent of health and well being in later years thus, the purpose of this study was to assess the nutritional adequacy of South Asian children's diets compared with UK dietary recommendation. A cross sectional study of South Asian children (n = 150, 65 boys and 85 girls) aged 4 to 11 years (7.18 yrs ±1.87 SD) was conducted. Parents/guardians completed three multiple pass 24-hour recalls on non-consecutive days including one weekend. Food portion sizes were estimated using household measurements and a newly developed South Asian Photographic Booklet. Nutrient contents were calculated using COMP-EAT software and UK's South Asian food composition data(3). The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of University of Leeds, UK. A total of 450 24-hour recalls interviews were conducted. Mean energy intake for children were 1624 kcal per day and the intake of energy for boys and girls was close to estimated average requirements (EAR). Total fat provided 34.7% of contributed energy intake but the energy intake from saturated fat 12.1% exceeded the recommendation in all age groups. The average protein intake was well above the Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI). The average intakes of most vitamins and minerals, except for zinc in girls, were well above the RNIs. However, 5% of children had Zinc below the Lower Reference Nutrient Intake (LRNI), 12% and 3% of children aged 7 to 10 years had vitamin A and Selenium below LRNI, respectively. Furthermore, Girls in this age group had 2% and 9% of Riboflavin and Iodine below LRNI, respectively. Mean intakes of vitamin D in all age groups were considerably low 1.7 μg/day compared with WHO recommendation of 5 μg/day(4). It is concluded that energy intake of South Asian children was close to UK's EAR. Whereas, vitamins and minerals exceeded UK's RNIs and were similar to intakes reported in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey(5). It is also recommended that longitudinal studies are needed to establish ethnic-specific requirements for these groups. (Table presented).