Dietary Patterns of Infants and Toddlers Are Associated with Nutrient Intakes

Abstract

Dietary patterns are a useful summary measure of diet. Few studies have examined the nutrient profiles underpinning the dietary patterns of young children. The study aim is to determine whether dietary patterns at 6 and 15 months of age are associated with nutrient intakes at 8 and 18 months, respectively. Participants were children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children who had complete dietary pattern and nutrient intake data (<em>n</em> = 725 at 6–8 months, <em>n </em>= 535 at 15–18 months). The association between tertiles of dietary pattern scores and nutrient intake was examined using a non-parametric test for trend. Scores on the <em>home-</em><em>made traditional </em>pattern (6–8 months) were positively associated with median energy intake. Each dietary pattern had different associations with energy-adjusted intakes of macro- and micro-nutrients. At both times, the <em>discretionary </em>pattern was positively and the <em>ready-</em><em>prepared baby foods </em>pattern was negatively associated with sodium intake. At 6–8 months, calcium and iron intakes decreased across scores on the <em>home-made traditional </em>and <em>breastfeeding </em>patterns, but increased across the <em>ready-prepared baby food </em>patterns. These findings highlight that dietary patterns in infants and toddlers vary in their underlying energy and nutrient composition.

Keywords

• dietary patterns
• infants
• toddlers
• nutrient intake
• ALSPAC