Iron deficiency has particular importance in early childhood because of its impact on growth and development. Preventive food-based strategies of iron deficiency require knowledge of intakes and sources of iron.
This study aimed to assess daily iron intakes (DIIs) in 2013, to compare them with the dietary reference values, to assess their evolution since 1981, and to identify iron food sources among non-breastfed French children under 3 years old.
This was a nation-wide cross-sectional survey conducted in 2013 in France to assess DIIs by comparing them with the dietary reference values (DRVs). Parents' reported diet diaries were collected for three non-consecutive days.
. Of the 1,184 children enrolled in the study 1,035 non-breastfed healthy children aged 0.5-35 months stratified into 11 age groups were included after informed consent of parents and according to a weighted quota sampling method. Main outcome measures DII assessed from the different food sources and trends in their evolution from 1981 to 2013. Statistical analyses performed Results are expressed as median with inter-quartile range and range and mean ± standard deviation. The Student t-test was used with the two-sided alpha level of significance set at 5%. Results a) Mean DIIs were 6.7 ± 2.3 mg/d before 6 months, 8.2 ± 2.7 mg/d from 6 months to 1 year, and 7.0 ± 3.2 mg/d from 1 to 3 years. The prevalence of infants older than 7 months with a DII < DRVs was 52.5 % and that of young children was 30%; b) After slightly increasing until 2005, DIIs decreased thereafter; c) Formulas contributed to the majority of DII up to 2 years of age. Cereals were the second largest contributor to DII while meat accounted for a small part of iron intake.
A substantial number of children between 6 months and 3 years of age were at risk of insufficient iron intake. This risk increased from 2005 to 2013. The role of formula in ensuring iron intake is highlighted. More research on health outcomes of low iron intakes is needed.