Intake of vitamin D by Finnish children aged 3 months to 3 years in relation to sociodemographic factors

• Objective: To study the total daily intake of vitamin D from food and supplements among Finnish children aged 3 months to 3 years, the dietary sources of vitamin D and the association between vitamin D intake and sociodemographic factors. Subjects and methods: The subjects are participants in the Finnish Type I Diabetes Prediction and Prevention Nutrition Study born between October 1997 and October 1998. At the age of 3 and 6 months, 1, 2 and 3 years, 342 (72% of the invited families), 298 (63%), 267 (56%), 233 (49%) and 209 (44%) families, respectively, participated in the present study. Food consumption was assessed by a 3-day food record. A structured questionnaire was used to record the parents' socioeconomic status. Results: The mean dietary vitamin D intake exceeded the recommendation (10 mu g/day) at the age of 3 (11.0 mu g) and 6 months (12.0 mu g), but decreased thereafter being 9.8, 5.0 and 4.1 mu g at 1, 2 and 3 years of age, respectively. Among the children 91, 91, 81, 42 and 26% used vitamin D supplements at the age of 3 and 6 months, and 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively. In children not using vitamin D supplements, vitamin D intake was less than 10 mg/day at all ages. Vitamin D intake from food did not differ in children who used and did not use vitamin D supplements. Vitamin D supplements were the main source of vitamin D intake in all age groups studied, followed by vitamin D-fortified infant formula in 3-month-olds and infant formula and baby foods in 6-month-olds. After the age of 1 year, the most important food sources of vitamin D were margarine, fish, baby foods, low-fat milk and eggs. Sociodemographic factors, especially the number of children in the family and maternal age, were associated with the total vitamin D intake and vitamin D supplement use. Conclusion: Vitamin D supplements are not used according to the dietary recommendations in a substantial proportion of Finnish children.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

vitamin D intake

infants

young children

food record

supplement

sociodemographic factor

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)