Dietary Protein Intake in Young Children in Selected Low-Income Countries Is Generally Adequate in Relation to Estimated Requirements for Healthy Children, Except When Complementary Food Intake Is Low
The prevalence of inadequate protein and amino acid intake by young children, accounting for protein quality
Abstract
Previous research indicates that young children in low-income countries (LICs) generally consume greater amounts of protein than published estimates of protein requirements, but this research did not account for protein quality based on the mix of amino acids and the digestibility of ingested protein.
The authors’ objective was to estimate the prevalence of inadequate protein and amino acid intake by young children in LICs, accounting for protein quality. 7 data sets with information on dietary intake for children (6–35 months of age) from 6 LICs (Peru, Guatemala, Ecuador, Bangladesh, Uganda, and Zambia) were reanalyzed to estimate protein and amino acid intake and assess adequacy.
The prevalence of inadequate protein intake was highest in breastfeeding children aged 6–8 months: 24% of Bangladeshi and 16% of Peruvian children. With the exception of Bangladesh, the prevalence of inadequate available protein intake decreased by age 9–12 mo and was very low in all sites (0–2%) after 12 months of age. Inadequate protein intake in children <12 months of age was due primarily to low energy intake from complementary foods, not inadequate protein density. Most children consumed protein amounts greater than requirements, except for the younger breastfeeding children, who were consuming low amounts of complementary foods.
These findings reinforce previous evidence that dietary protein is not generally limiting for children in LICs compared with estimated requirements for healthy children, even after accounting for protein quality. However, unmeasured effects of infection and intestinal dysfunction on the children’s protein requirements could modify this conclusion.
This work is an output of the HarvestPlus Programme. The Department for International Development is one of the main donors for HarvestPlus.
Citation
Arsenault, Joanne E. and Kenneth H. Brown. 2017. Dietary Protein Intake in Young Children in Selected Low-Income Countries Is Generally Adequate in Relation to Estimated Requirements for Healthy Children, Except When Complementary Food Intake Is Low. Journal of Nutrition147 (5): 932-939. https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.116.239657