Food Sources of Fiber and Micronutrients of Concern in Infants and Children in the United Arab Emirates: Findings from the Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS) and the Kids Nutrition and Health Survey (KNHS) 2020
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SUBMITTER: Kassis A
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9324925 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:BackgroundInfant and young child feeding practices (IYCF) impact the early and later health status of the population. Limited data is available regarding IYCF in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional status and adequacy of feeding practices, energy, food, and nutrient intakes of UAE infants and toddlers ages 0-23.9 months.MethodsThis study is a population-based cross-sectional survey of 276 infants and toddlers aged 0-23.9 months of which 180 were nationals and 96 were Arab non-nationals living in the UAE. Data were collected from the three major emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah. Anthropometry was collected and assessed using WHO Anthro-Survey Analyzer, and a multicomponent age-specific questionnaire was used to evaluate IYCF and sociodemographic characteristics. Usual intake of energy, micronutrients, and macronutrients, including supplements, were collected using multiple-pass 24-h dietary recall and analyzed using the PC-side software. IYCF practices were assessed using the WHO indicators.ResultsOverall, 4% of children were malnourished, 8% wasted, 15% stunted, 18% at risk of overweight, and 7% overweight and obese. 95% of infants were ever breastfed and 37% exclusively breastfed at 6 months. Around 98% of infants had a timely introduction of complementary food. Macronutrient intake exceeded AMDR for fat, carbohydrates, and protein for 27%, 8% and 2% of toddlers respectively. As for the percentage of those exceeding the ESPGHAN cut-off for free sugars set at 5% of energy intake, 28.6% had excessive intakes overall, 10% in 0-5.9, 21.9% in 6-11.9 and 56.7% in 12-23.9 month. Usual iron intake was below the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) in 47% of infants 6-11.9 months. Above 12 months, the usual intake of iron and vitamin D were below EAR in 11% and 49% of toddlers respectively. Usual intake exceeded the tolerable upper intake levels (UL) for vitamin A (14 to 18%) and zinc (11 to 22%) across all ages. Approximately 93% of toddlers ages 12-23.9 months did not meet food groups' recommendations for vegetables, 87% for fruits, 48% for milk/dairy, 54% for lean meat and beans, and 33% for grains.ConclusionsThis study revealed that a high percentage of infants and toddlers aged 0-23.9 m suffer from a double burden of malnutrition, which is the coexistence of both undernutrition, and overweight and obesity in the same population. In addition to suboptimal feeding practices and inadequate/overconsumption of various nutrients. The findings highlight the need for the development of culturally specific programs aiming to improve the nutritional status of infants and toddlers in the UAE.
| S-EPMC8848814 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe transition from a predominantly milk-based diet to a diverse family diet is a window of opportunity for optimal child growth and development.ObjectivesThe study aims to examine the nutritional status and food-consumption patterns of children under 4 y of age in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and their adherence to nutrient and dietary recommendations.MethodsA population-based cross-sectional survey of 525 children aged 0-47.9 mo was conducted in 3 major emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah. Anthropometric measurements were obtained, and dietary assessment was conducted using the 24-h dietary recall approach. Usual intakes of energy, macronutrient, and micronutrients, including from supplements, were assessed using PC-SIDE software. Adherence to food-group recommendations was evaluated based on the American Heart Association/American Academy of Pediatrics dietary guidelines.ResultsAmong 0-4-y-old children, 10% were stunted, 6% were wasted, 17% were at risk of overweight, 5% were overweight, and 3% were obese. The contribution of sweets and sugar sweetened beverages to energy intake increased from 5% in 6-11.9-mo-old children to 17% in 36-47.9-mo-old children. Compared with dietary guidelines, the lowest adherence was for fruit (13-18%) and vegetables (7-12%), while protein was within the recommendations, and 92% and 89% of children (aged 24 to 35.9 mo and 36 to 47.9 mo, respectively) had high intakes of saturated fat. Almost all toddlers failed to meet the Adequate Intake for fiber. The proportions of children exceeding the free-sugar upper limit increased from 10.6% in infants (0-5.9 mo) to 56.7% in toddlers (12- 23.9 mo). Micronutrient inadequacies were observed, particularly for calcium, zinc, folate, and vitamins A and D.ConclusionsThis study suggests a triple burden of malnutrition among infants and young children in the UAE. Results call for national nutrition intervention strategies aimed at improving dietary quality in the pediatric population.
| S-EPMC9113371 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Research on the feeding practices of infants and young children in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is limited, especially in the northern regions of the country. A retrospective web-based survey was conducted to assess child feeding practices among the mothers of young children aged 6 months to 2.5 years in the northern emirates of the UAE. Information from a total of 475 mothers was collected on maternal socio-demographic factors, child feeding practices, and the use of vitamin and mineral supplements. For the first 6 months, 46.7% of the infants were exclusively breastfed, 43.8% were fed on both breastmilk and formula, and 9.5% were given formula only. Significant differences in the types of feeding were found correlating with maternal age (p = 0.02) and employment status (p < 0.001) but not with educational level, with a higher proportion of younger and unemployed women exclusively breastfeeding. However, although a significantly higher proportion of mothers with lower educational levels breastfed their children for ≥6 months (p = 0.026), they introduced "other milk" (non-breastmilk or formula) before the child reached the age of 12 months (p = 0.022). In this study, 22.1% of the infants and 8.1% of the toddlers did not receive an animal source of iron, while 52.6% of the children received vitamin/mineral supplements. The median daily frequency intake of sweets and savory snacks was substantially higher than the respective intake of fruits and vegetables. Intervention programs that focus on healthy infant and toddler feeding, including food sources of iron and nutrient-dense food groups, are needed in the UAE.
| S-EPMC9501191 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes continues to increase. These conditions disproportionately affect minorities and are associated with poor nutrition early in life. Current food-consumption patterns can inform pending dietary guidelines for infants and toddlers.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to describe infant feeding, complementary feeding, and food and beverage consumption patterns of 0- to 23.9-mo-olds in the general population.MethodsThe Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study 2016 is a cross-sectional survey of caregivers of children aged <4 y. Dietary data were collected from a national random sample by using a 24-h dietary recall (n = 3235). The percentage of children consuming foods from >400 food groups was calculated. Differences in the percentage consuming between Hispanic, non-Hispanic white, and non-Hispanic black children aged 0-23.9 mo were evaluated with the use of ORs and 95% CIs.ResultsEighty-three percent of 0- to 23.9-mo-olds (n = 2635) were ever breastfed, 34% of 0- to 3.9-mo-olds (n = 305) and 15% of 4- to 5.9-mo-olds (n = 295) were exclusively breastfed, and 24% of 12- to 14.9-mo-olds (n = 412) consumed breast milk on the day of the recall. Complementary foods were more likely to be introduced before 4 mo in formula-fed infants (27%) than in infants who did not consume formula (5%). Half of 4- to 5.9-mo-olds consumed iron-fortified infant cereal, but few consumed iron-rich meats. Among toddlers (12-23.9 mo; n = 1133), >20% consumed no servings of fruit or vegetables on the day of the recall, approximately half consumed 100% fruit juice, and one-quarter to one-third consumed a sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB).ConclusionsBreastfeeding initiation and duration have improved, but exclusivity remains low. Low consumption of iron-rich foods, fruit, and vegetables and lack of variety in vegetable consumption are problems. Efforts to reduce the consumption of SSBs and 100% fruit juice are warranted in early childhood.
| S-EPMC6126630 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundMany updates to young child feeding recommendations have been published over the past decade, but concurrent intake trends have not been assessed.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate adequacy and trends in energy and nutrient intakes of US infants and children aged 0-47.9 mo through use of Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS) data from 2002, 2008, and 2016.MethodsFITS are cross-sectional surveys of parents/caregivers of infants and young children (FITS 2002, n = 2962; FITS 2008, n = 3276; FITS 2016, n = 3235). Dietary intakes were assessed by telephone with trained interviewers using the Nutrition Data System for Research. Mean ± SE nutrient intakes were calculated. Diet adequacy was assessed with the nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) for 17 nutrients and the corresponding mean adequacy ratio.ResultsEnergy and macronutrient intakes were generally stable across surveys, but significant decreases for saturated fat and total sugars and an increase in fiber were observed among 6-11.9-mo-olds and 12-23.9-mo-olds (P-trend < 0.0001). Mean sodium intakes exceeded Adequate Intakes (AI) for all ages, whereas fiber intakes were universally below the AI. Nutrients with the lowest NAR values were vitamin D (range 0.41-0.67/1.00) and vitamin E (range 0.60-0.79/1.00 for 2008 and 2016). For iron, infants aged 6-11.9 mo had the lowest NAR values at 0.77-0.88/1.00, compared to 0.85-0.89/1.00 for 12-47.9-mo-olds. Potassium was low from 12 to 47.9 mo (NAR range 0.55-0.63/1.00 across survey years). The nutrients with the greatest decline in mean intakes were iron and vitamins D and E among 6-11.9-mo-olds, and vitamin D and potassium among 12-23.9-mo-olds in 2016 compared to 2002.ConclusionsThe diets of US infants and young children were generally adequate for most micronutrients and stable over time, but sodium intakes were too high, and nutrient gaps still existed, especially for vitamins D, E, and fiber across ages and for iron among infants.
| S-EPMC6602894 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS) is the largest survey of dietary intake among infants and young children in the United States. Dietary patterns in early childhood are a key component of prevention of diet-related chronic diseases, yet little is known about how food consumption patterns of infants and young children have changed over time. The objective of this study is to examine trends in food and beverage consumption among children ages 6-23.9 months using data from the FITS conducted in 2002, 2008, and 2016. A total of 5963 infants and young children ages 6-23.9 months were included in these analyses. Food consumption data were collected using a multiple-pass 24-h recall by telephone using the Nutrition Data System for Research. Linear trends were assessed using the Wald's test in a multivariable linear regression model. Positive significant findings include increases in breast milk consumption and decreases in the consumption of sweets, sugar-sweetened beverages, and 100% fruit juice. More troubling findings include decreasing infant cereal consumption, stagnant or decreasing whole grain consumption, and stagnant consumption of vegetables. Our findings suggest some promising improvements in dietary intake among infants and toddlers in the United States over the past 15 years, but further policy, programmatic, and industry efforts are still needed.
| S-EPMC6893614 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Since the declaration of SARS-CoV-2 outbreak as a pandemic, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) public health authorities have adopted strict measures to reduce transmission as early as March 2020. As a result of these measures, flight suspension, nationwide RT-PCR and surveillance of viral sequences were extensively implemented. This study aims to characterize the epidemiology, transmission pattern, and emergence of variants of concerns (VOCs) and variants of interests (VOIs) of SARS-CoV-2 in the UAE, followed by the investigation of mutations associated with hospitalized cases. A total of 1274 samples were collected and sequenced from all seven emirates between the period of 25 April 2020 to 15 February 2021. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated multiple introductions of SARS-CoV-2 into the UAE in the early pandemic, followed by a local spread of root clades (A, B, B.1 and B.1.1). As the international flight resumed, the frequencies of VOCs surged indicating the January peak of positive cases. We observed that the hospitalized cases were significantly associated with the presence of B.1.1.7 (p < 0.001), B.1.351 (p < 0.001) and A.23.1 (p = 0.009). Deceased cases are more likely to occur in the presence of B.1.351 (p < 0.001) and A.23.1 (p = 0.022). Logistic and ridge regression showed that 51 mutations are significantly associated with hospitalized cases with the highest proportion originated from S and ORF1a genes (31% and 29% respectively). Our study provides an epidemiological insight of the emergence of VOCs and VOIs following the borders reopening and worldwide travels. It provides reassurance that hospitalization is markedly more associated with the presence of VOCs. This study can contribute to understand the global transmission of SARS-CoV-2 variants.
| S-EPMC9421632 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundOptimal complementary feeding (CF) promotes health and supports growth and development in children. While suboptimal feeding practices are reported for many countries, very limited information exists about such practices in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The present study describes CF practices in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and evaluates them using the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Programming Guide: Infant and Young Child Feeding.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, participating mothers of children below the age of two reported on their children's CF introduction and practices via a structured questionnaire. The study received ethical approval (ZU17_006_F) from Zayed University.ResultsOut of 1822 participating mothers, 938 had initiated complementary feeding for their children, who had a mean age of 7.1 ± 5.9 months. Three quarters of the children (72.2%) were introduced to CF in a timely manner between the ages of 6 and 9 months. A majority (71.4%) consumed ≥4 food groups, i.e. the recommended minimum diet diversity. In total, less than half (47.3%) of the children met the requirements for minimum meal frequency, with the non-breastfed, 6-23 month old children being the least compliant (21.9%) (p < 0.001). Many children were fed with sugar-containing snack items. Overall, 36.2% of the children aged ≥6 months had a minimum acceptable diet.ConclusionThe gap between the suboptimal CF practices and the recommendations may be attributable to poor knowledge about feeding practices rather than food availability problems. Effective intervention programs can facilitate improvements in the feeding practices to better support a healthy upbringing among Abu Dhabi infants and toddlers.
| S-EPMC7453515 | biostudies-literature
Project description:[No Abstract Available].
| S-EPMC5541193 | biostudies-other
Project description:BackgroundThe US Dietary Guidelines will expand in 2020 to include infants and toddlers. Understanding current dietary intakes is critical to inform policy.ObjectiveThe purpose of this analysis was to examine the usual total nutrient intakes from diet and supplements among US children.MethodsThe Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study 2016 is a national cross-sectional study of children aged <48 mo (n = 3235): younger infants (birth to 5.9 mo), older infants (6-11.9 mo), toddlers (12-23.9 mo), younger preschoolers (24-36.9 mo), and older preschoolers (36-47.9 mo) based on the use of a 24-h dietary recall. A second 24-h recall was collected from a representative subsample (n = 799). Energy, total nutrient intake distributions, and compliance with Dietary Reference Intakes were estimated with the use of the National Cancer Institute method.ResultsDietary supplement use was 15-23% among infants and toddlers and 35-45% among preschoolers. Dietary intakes of infants were adequate, with mean intakes exceeding Adequate Intake for all nutrients except vitamins D and E. Iron intakes fell below the Estimated Average Requirement for older infants (18%). We found that 31-33% of children aged 12-47.9 mo had low percentage of energy from total fat, and >60% of children aged 24-47.9 mo exceeded the saturated fat guidelines. The likelihood of nutrient inadequacy for many nutrients was higher for toddlers: 3.2% and 2.5% greater than the Adequate Intake for fiber and potassium and 76% and 52% less than the Estimated Average Requirement for vitamins D and E, respectively. These patterns continued through older ages. Intakes exceeded the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of sodium, retinol, and zinc across most age groups.ConclusionsDietary intakes of US infants are largely nutritionally adequate; concern exists over iron intakes in those aged 6-11.9 mo. For toddlers and preschoolers, high intake of sodium and low intakes of potassium, fiber, and vitamin D and, for preschoolers, excess saturated fat are of concern. Excess retinol, zinc, and folic acid was noted across most ages, especially among supplement users.
| S-EPMC6126633 | biostudies-literature