Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T10:53:59.276Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Vitamin and mineral intakes in European children. Is food fortification needed?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2001

Lluís Serra-Majem
Lluís Serra-Majem*
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
*
*Corresponding author: E-mail [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Objective:

To provide an overview of vitamin and mineral intakes among children and adolescents in European countries and to present results from studies showing the impact of food fortification.

Design:

Comparative analysis of a number of nutritional studies among children and adolescents performed during the last decade in certain European countries.

Setting:

Spain, France, UK, North Ireland, Portugal, Germany.

Subjects:

Europeans aged 6 to 18.

Results:

Dietary surveys across Europe showed that varying levels of nutrient adequacy existed from one country to another, and that even within the same country, there were important nutritional gaps between different regions. In general, studies are difficult to compare, and information for many countries was missing. The results suggest that children and adolescents are the population group most likely to have higher risk of nutritional deficiencies, particularly for iron, vitamins C, E, B6 and folates. In France, Ireland, UK and Spain, food fortification, and particularly of breakfast cereals, has positively contributed to increasing vitamin and mineral intakes in childhood and adolescence.

Conclusions:

Information on vitamin and mineral intakes in European children is less available than in adults. Fortified foods may contribute to reducing nutrient inadequacy in European children and adolescents, but should not replace nutrition education.

Keywords

ChildrenAdolescentDietary intakeNutrition educationFood fortificationEurope
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 4 , Issue 1a , February 2001 , pp. 101 - 107
Copyright
Copyright © CABI Publishing 2001

References

1Blumberg, JB, Public Health implications of preventive nutrition. In: Bendich, A, Dechelbaum, RJ, eds. Preventive nutrition. Totowa: Humana Press, 1997: 1–16.Google Scholar
2Hercberg, S, Galan, P, Preziosi, P, Alfarez, MJ, Vazquez, C. The potential role of antioxidant vitamins in preventing cardio-vascular disease and cancers. Nutrition 1998; 14: 513–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3Gassin, AL. Fortification and the European consumer: consumer awareness and attitudes to food fortification. Scan. J. Nutr. 1999; 43 (Suppl 35): 122S–4S.Google Scholar
4Peetz-Schou, M. Nordic legislative practices and consumer attitudes towards the addition of nutrients to foods. Scan. J. Nutr. 1999; 43 (Suppl 35): 125S–8S.Google Scholar
5Pietrzik, K. Optimal intake of micronutrients for health and well-being. New perspectives in the definition of RDAs. Scan. J. Nutr. 1999; 43 (Suppl 35): 101S–5S.Google Scholar
6McNulty, H. Towards improving dietary intakes and health: the contribution of fortified foods. Scan. J. Nutr. 1999; 43 (Suppl 35): 106S–11S.Google Scholar
7Persson, LACarlgren, G. Measuring children's diets: evalation of dietary assessment techniques in infancy and child hood. Int. J. Epidemiol. 1984; 13: 506–17.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8Trebier, FA, Leonard, SB, Frank, G, Musante, L, Davis, H, Strong, WB. et al. Dietary assessment instruments for preschool children: reliability of parental responses to the 24-hour recall and a food-frequency questionnaire. J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 1990; 90: 814–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9García Closas, R, Serra Majem, L. Encuestas alimentarias en la infancia (in press).Google Scholar
10Samuelson, G. Dietary habits and nutritional status in adolescents over Europe. An overview of current studies in the Nordic countries. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 2000; 54 (Suppl 1): S21–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11Armorin Cruz, JA. Dietary habits and nutritional status in adolescents over Europe. Southern Europe. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 2000; 54 (Suppl 1): S29–S35.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12Serra Majem, Ll, Aranceta Bartrina, J, eds. Desayuno y equilibrio alimentario Estudio Enkid. Barcelona: Masson, 2000.Google Scholar
13Parízková, J. Dietary habits and nutritional status in adolescents in Central and Eastern Europe. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 2000; 54 (Suppl 1): S36–40.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14Rolland-Cachera, M-F, Bellisle, F, Deheeger, M. Nutritional status and food intake in adolescents living in Western Europe. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 2000; 54 (Suppl 1): S41–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15Crawley, H. Dietary and lifestyle differences between Scottish teenagers and those living in England and Wales. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 1997; 51: 87–91.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16Belton, NR, Macvean, ADL, Richards, ND, Elton, RA, Moffat, WMU, Beattie, TF. Nutrient intake in Scottish adolescents. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 1997; 56: 303A.Google Scholar
17McNulty, HM, Eaton-Evans, J, Cran, G, Woulahan, G, Boreham, C, Savage, JM. et al. Nutrient intakes and impact of fortified breakfast cereals in schoolchildren. Arch. Dis. Child. 1996; 75: 474–81.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18Serra-Majem, L, Ribas, L, Ngo, J, Aranceta, J, Garaulet, M, Marin, E, et al. Risk of inadequate intake for vitamin A, B1, B6, C, E, folate, iron and calcium in Spanish children (in press).Google Scholar
19Gonçalves Ferreira, FA, Armorin-Cruz, JA, Aguilar, LAR, Martins, I, Mano, MC, Dantas, MA. Inquérito alimentar nacional 1980 (1a parte). Rev. Centro Estudos Nutriçào. 1985; 9: 5–121.Google Scholar
20Serra-Majem, L, Ribas, L, García Closas, R, Ramon, JM, Salvador, G, Farran, A. et al. Llibre Blanc: Avaluació de l'estat nutricional de la població catalana (1992–93) Barcelona: Departament de Sanitat i Seguretat Social, Generalitat de Catalunya, 1996: 1–252.Google Scholar
21Serra-Majem, L, Ribas Barba, L. Armas Navarro, A. Equipo investigador de ENCA 1997–98. Encuesta Nutricional de Canarias 1997–98. Ingesta de energía y nutrientes y riesgo de ingestas inadecuadas. Fuentes alimentarias de energía y nutrientes (Volumen 3). Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Servicio Canario de Salud, 2000.Google Scholar
22Hercberg, S, Preziosi, P, Galan, P, Deheeger, M, Papoz, L, Dupin, H. Apports nutritionnels d'un échantillon représentatif de la population du Val-de-Marne: III. Les apports en minéraux et vitamins. Rev. Epidém et Santé Publ. 1991; 39: 245–61.Google Scholar
23Serra-Majem, L, Santana, JF, Salmona, E. Dietary habits and nutrient status in Spain. World Rev. Nutr. Diet. 2000; 87: 127–59.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
24Serra-Majem, L, Ferro-Luzzi, A, Bellizzi, M, Salleras, L. Nutrition policies in Mediterranean Europe. Nutr. Rev. 1997; 55: S42–57.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
25Serra-Majem, L, Aranceta, J. Guías alimentarias, educación nutricional, fortificación y suplementación. In: Galvez, R, Sierra, A, Saenz, C, Gomez, I, Fernández-Crehuet, J, Salleras, Led. Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública (10 ed.) Barcelona: Masson, 2000.Google Scholar
26Van den Berg, H. Responding to consumer needs: risk-benefit analysis of fortification. Scand. J. Nutrition. 1999; 43 112S–6S.Google Scholar
27Thelle, DS. Fortification of food with nutrients, an effective way to promote public health? Scand. J. Nutrition. 1999 43: 117S–8S.Google Scholar
28Ruxton, CHS, Kirk, TR. Breakfast: a review of associations with measures of dietary intake, physiology and biochemistry. Br. J. Nutr. 1997; 78: 199–213.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
29Preziosi, P, Galan, P, Deheeger, M, Yacoub, N, Drewnowski, A, Hercberg, S. Breakfast type, daily nutrient intakes and vitamin and mineral status of French children, adolescents and adults. J. Am. Coll. Nutr. 1999; 18: 171–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
30Prynne, CJ, Paul, AA, Price, GM, Day, KC, Hildre, WS, Wadsworth, ME. Food and nutrient intake of a national sample of 4-year-old children in 1950: comparison with the 1990s. Public Health Nutr. 1999; 2: 537–47.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
31Gibson, SA. Iron intake and iron status of preschool children: associations with breakfast cereals, vitamin C and meat. Public Health Nutr. 1999; 2: 521–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
32Sichert-Hellert, W, Kersting, M, Alexy, U, Manz, F. Ten-years trends in vitamin and mineral intake from fortified food in German children and adolescent. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 2000; 54: 81–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
33Serra-Majem, L, Ribas, L, Pérez, C, Aranceta, J. Cereales de desayuno y estado nutricional: Contributión de los cereales del desayuno a la nutrición de los niños y jóvenes españoles. In: Serra-Majem, L, Aranceta, Jed. Desayuno y equilibrio alimentario. Barcelona: Masson, 2000.Google Scholar
34Ortega, RM, Requejo, AM, Redondo, R, Lopez-Sobaler, AM, Andres, P, Ortega, A. et al. Influence of the intake of fortified breakfast cereals on dietary habits and nutritional status of Spanish schoolchildren. Ann. of Nutr. Metab. 1996; 40: 146–56.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
35Johnson, CC, Miller, JZ, Slemenda, CW, Reister, TK, Hui, S, Christian, JC, Peacock, M. Calcium supplementation and increases in bone mineral density in children. New Eng. J. Med. 1992; 327: 82–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
36Lloyd, T, Andon, MB, Rollings, N, Mattel, JK, Landis, JR, Demers, LM. et al. Calcium supplementation and bone mineral density in adolescent girls. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 1993; 270: 841–4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
37Cuskelly, GJ, McNulty, H, McCullough, F, Scott, JM. The exclusion of folic-fortified foods significantly reduces folate status. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 1994; 53: 265A.Google Scholar
38Cuskelly, GJ, McNulty, H, Scott, JM. Changes in folate status in response to pteroylglutamic (folic) acid supplements, folic acid-fortified foods, food folate and dietary advice. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 1995; 54: 196A.Google Scholar
39Serra-Majem, L, Calvo, JR, Malé, ML, Ribas, L, Lainez, P. Population attitudes towards changing dietary habits and reliance on general practitioners in Spain. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 1999; 53 (Suppl 2): S58–S61.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
40Serra-Majem, L, Ribas, L, Sáiz de Bustamante, P, López Blanco, F, Barbachano, M. Consumo de suplementos vitamínico-minerales en la población española. Nutr. Clin. 1996; 16: 179–87.Google Scholar
41Aranceta Bartrina, J, Pérez Rodrigo, C. Consumo de alimentos y estado nutricional de la población de Bilbao. Guías nutricionales para la población escolar. Bilbao: Área de Salud y Consumo. Excmo. Ayuntamiento de Bilbao, 1996.Google Scholar