Paediatria Croatica, Vol. 64 No. 3, 2020.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.13112/PC.2020.26
Protein intake in toddlers: dietary sources and lifestyle related factors
Ana Ilić
Tea Ištvanić
Darja Sokolić
Irena Keser
Dragica Šakić
Tena Niseteo
Irena Colić Barić
Ivana Rumbak
Abstract
The aims of this study were to determine the intake and sources of total, animal and plant protein in toddlers, as well as difference in
protein intake in terms of demographic and anthropometric characteristics and socioeconomic status. The study was conducted on
130 toddlers (49.2% girls and 50.8% boys), mean age 23.5±0.7 months. The parents fulfilled the general questionnaire and 2-day food
record. On average, toddlers’ intake was 3.5±0.1 g kg-1
of protein daily, and the overall population exceeded the recommended protein
intake. The mean intake of animal and plant proteins was 2.3±0.1 g kg-1
per day and 1.2±0.05 g kg-1
per day, respectively. The group of
meat, chicken, fish and eggs (32.1%) was the main contributor to total protein intake, followed by milk and dairy products (28.1%) and
potatoes and cereals (15.7%). Differences in protein intake and the animal to plant protein ratio according to sex, infant body mass
index, length of exclusive breastfeeding, and age at the time of introduction of solid foods were not statistically significant. A significantly (p=0.012) higher intake of plant protein was observed with increasing socioeconomic status (1.1±0.1 g kg-1
, 1.2±0.1 g kg-1
and
1.6±0.1 g kg-1
, respectively). Protein intake in this sample of toddlers exceeded the recommendation for daily protein intake. Animal
protein intake was twice as high as plant protein intake, especially in families of lower socioeconomic stat
Keywords
PROTEINS; PLANT PROTEINS; ANIMAL PROTEINS, CHILD
Hrčak ID:
251811
URI
Publication date:
30.9.2020.
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