Objective: To describe the energy and nutrients intake from complementary foods of children aged 6-23 months in different areas of China.
Methods: The data was from the National Special Program for Science & Technology Basic Resources Investigation-China Children's Nutrition and Health System Survey and Application of 0-18 Years Old Children. Children aged 6-23 months(n=546) were included in the current study. Demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status and birth status were collected through questionnaire survey. We used 24-hour weighted dietary record method to collect the intake of complementary foods. Energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, calcium, iron, zinc, selenium, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin B_1, vitamin B_2 and vitamin C intakes were calculated by using Chinese Food Composition Database.
Results: For children aged 6-8 months, 9-11 months, 12-17 months and 18-23 months, the energy intake from complementary foods was 156.1, 258.0, 388.7 and 581.1 kcal, respectively. The protein intake was 5.1, 10.1, 15.0 and 21.7 g, respectively. The fat intake was 3.3, 6.7, 9.5 and 15.9 g, respectively. The calcium intake was 38.7, 54.8, 78.6 and 106.9 mg, respectively. The iron intake was 1.3, 2.2, 3.5 and 5.3 mg, respectively. The zinc intake was 0.7, 1.4, 2.0 and 2.9 mg, respectively. The vitamin A intake was 83.7, 100.3, 157.4 and 180.4 μgRAE, respectively. The vitamin B_1 intake was 0.1, 0.2, 0.2 and 0.3 mg, respectively. The vitamin B_2 intake was 0.1, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 mg, respectively. The vitamin C intake was 1.8, 6.3, 9.5 and 19.2 mg, respectively. Compared with the World Health Organization recommended value of nutrients density, the density of protein from complementary foods for children aged 6-23 months was higher(2.6-3.8 mg/100 kcal vs.0.9-1.0 mg/100 kcal). The density of iron(1.0, 0.9 mg/100 kcal vs.4.5, 3.0 mg/100 kcal) and zinc(0.5, 0.5 mg/100 kcal vs.1.6, 1.1 mg/100 kcal) was lower for children aged 6-8 months and 9-11 months, respectively.
Conclusion: The main issues of complementary food for children in China were high protein for children aged 6-23 months and low iron and zinc for infants aged 6-11 months.
Keywords: complementary foods; cross-sectional study; energy; infants and young child; nutrients.