CRIANÇAS COM DIFICULDADES ALIMENTARES CONSOMEM PROTEÍNAS E SUPLEMENTOS LÁCTEOS EM QUANTIDADES EXCESSIVAS – COMO ROMPER ESTE CICLO?

Abstract

Objectives: To identify the profile of milk and proteins intake by children with feeding difficulties (FD), compare intakes with recommendations for age and investigate association with FD patterns. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study with 119 children aged between six months and 14 years (sampling power >90%). The following data were collected from medical records: age, sex, FD type, hemoglobin and ferritin levels, BMI, food selectivity pattern, macronutrients and milk intake patterns (except breast milk), feeding complaint, mother’s parenting style, coercive practices and self-feeding habits. Student t-tests, Anova, GLM and Spearman’s correlation, significance level below 5% and 95% CI were used. Results and discussion: there was an excessive daily absolute protein consumption for all age groups (p<0.024), and the highest percentage of milk in total protein intake was found in children less than 3 years (51.7% to 55%). Milk intake alone provided 80% to 138% of daily protein needs (below 8 years). Children using milk-based supplements tend to a reduced consumption of non-milk foods. The highest milk protein consumption was associated with mothers with indulgent profile (p=0.033) and coercive habits (p=0.043), with no relationship with the other variables. Conclusions: there was excessive protein intake and a relationship between reduced intake of other protein sources and use of milk-based supplements. Indulgent and coercive parenting behaviors were associated with more milk consumption. It is emphasized the need for guidance about the replacement of meals and nutritional supplementation in FD conditions. DOI: 10.12957/demetra.2019.37449

Keywords

• dificuldade alimentar. crianças. ingestão dietética. proteínas. leite. suplementação nutricional