Nutritional assessment of children enrolled in a structured childcare setting

Abstract

Determining the nutrition status of children in a structured daycare setting will reflect their health status. Children who have proper nutritional status are generally in better health and have a decreased risk for developing disease in the future. A nutritional assessment can detect any abnormal ranges at an early age so that lifestyle changes can take place before the problem elevates into something more serious with adverse consequences. The purpose of this study was to provide a nutritional status profile of children who attend the Child and Family Study Center at UW-Stout. This cross-sectional study, descriptive in nature, involved children between the ages of 12 to 71 months who attended the University of Wisconsin-Stout' s Child and Family Study Center from August 2000 to May 2001. The components of a nutrition assessment were: income level, list of medications, height, weight, BMI, blood pressure, blood glucose levels, total cholesterol level, hemoglobin levels, and a food frequency questionnaire on fruit and vegetable intake, Of the 34 participants, 26 were involved in biochemical testing. After pilot testing, height, weight, and blood pressure were measured by a registered dietitian. Glucose, cholesterol, and hemoglobin were measured by a Medical Technician and performed at the Nutrition Assessment Laboratory for Education and Research (NALER). NALER is a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-approved laboratory. Of the children, 25, 27, and 33 had height, weight, weight-for-length values between the 5 th and 95th percentile, respectively. Mean hemoglobin level of 12.Smg/dL was normal; 1 1.5% of the children had a level below 1 lmg/dL (n=3). The mean cholesterol was 157 mg/dL, while 32% of the children (n=8) had borderline cholesterol. Mean glucose and blood pressure readings were normal at 98mg/dL and 92/5 8 mmHg, respectively. Extremely high mean serving sizes and percentages of fruits and vegetables that met the Food Guide Pyramid (FGP) were reported by the parents in a Food Frequency Questionnaire. The average fruit intake was 4540/0 (9 servings) of the :minima] servings of the Food Guide Pyramid's recommendations. Ninety percent: of the children met. the recommendations of the Food Guide :Pyramid for fruit intake (2 servings). The average vegetable intake was 890/0 (2.7 servings) of the minimal servings of the Food Guide Pyramid's recommendations. Thirty-seven percent of the children1 met the recommendations of the Food Guide :Pyramid for vegetable intake (3 servings). The average combined fruit and vegetable intakes were 235% of the "5 A Day" recommendations. Eighty percent of the children met the recommendations of "5 A I)ay"' for combined intakes of fruits and vegetables. Pearson correlations revealed that the percentage of fruits that met the Food Guide Pyramid had an inverse statistical association with diastolic blood pressure (r=-. 52, p=<.O5) and hemoglobin (r=.44,p=<.05). Also, an inverse statistical association was discovered between diastolic blood pressure and the percentage met. for fruits and vegetables according to the "'5 A*Day" recommendations (r= -.49, p=<.O5). Average income was $59,500. In this study, given a good income, nutritional status was good, but borderline cholesterol was found in a certain number. Limited current nutritional research studies on the nutritional status of preschool-aged children indicate further research is needed. Data from all components of a nutritional assessment are crucial to provide a full review of children' s nutritional status.