Nutritional Status of Preschool Children

Abstract

The nutrient content of foods eaten by 40 preschool children from two socioeconomic levels was calculated. In both groups, mean dietary intakes except for iron and calories compared favorably with recommended allowances. Mean iron and thiamine intakes from food were significantly higher in the lower socioeconomic group. A comparison of the 3-day dietaries with the allowances recommended by the Food and Nutrition Board suggested a somewhat more favorable comparison for children in the lower socioeconomic group. Nutrients from food sources consumed by individual children that most often failed to equal the recommended allowances were iron, calcium, and ascorbic acid. Several biochemical measurements were determined for preschool children from the two socioeconomic levels. Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were comparable in the two groups. Urinary nitrogen, creatinine, thiamine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and niacin excretions tended to be higher in group H than in group L children, although serum cholesterol levels appeared higher in group L children. Differences in nitrogen and riboflavin excretion were statistically significant. Evaluation of thiamine and riboflavin excretion data by the usual criteria indicated generally more adequate nutriture for these vitamins in children from the higher socioeconomic group. The generally more favorable nutritional status of the higher socioeconomic group is attributed to their higher nutrient intake, provided partly by vitamin supplements, over their entire lifetime.