Unhealthy Snack Food and Beverage Consumption Is Associated with Lower Dietary Adequacy and Length-for-Age z-Scores among 12-23-Month-Olds in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

BACKGROUND: Consumption of unhealthy snack foods and beverages (USFBs) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is rising, with global awareness increasing about risks of overnutrition. However, little is known about the relation between USFB consumption and young children's diet/nutritional outcomes in contexts where nutrient density of complementary foods is often low. OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the association of high USFB consumption, compared with low consumption, with nutrient intakes, dietary adequacy, iron status, and growth in young children in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a representative sample of 745 primary caregivers of children aged 12-23 mo. Food consumption was measured through quantitative 24-h recalls, and child anthropometric measurements and capillary blood samples were collected. Using adjusted linear/logistic regression models, nutrient intakes, dietary adequacy, length-for-age and weight-for-length z-scores (LAZ and WLZ, respectively), and iron status were compared between lowest and highest tertiles of consumption based on the contribution of USFBs to total energy intakes (TEIs). Mediation of the relation between USFB consumption and LAZ via lowered dietary adequacy was explored using structural equations modeling. RESULTS: On average, USFBs contributed 46.9% of TEI among the highest tertile of consumers, compared with 5.2% of TEI among the lowest. Compared with low-USFB consumers, high-USFB consumers had lower nutrient intakes and a greater proportion were at risk of inadequate intakes for 8 nutrients. Mean LAZ was nearly 0.3 SD lower among high-USFB consumers than low consumers (P = 0.003), with this relationship partially mediated through dietary adequacy. No associations were found with stunting prevalence or iron status. Prevalence of overweight/obesity was low. CONCLUSIONS: In this LMIC context, high USFB consumption among young children was associated with inadequate micronutrient intakes, which can contribute to poor growth outcomes. Addressing increased availability of USFBs in LMIC food systems should be a priority for policies and programs aiming to safeguard child nutrition

USDA National Fluoride Database of Selected Beverages and Foods - Release 2 (2005)

Assessment of fluoride intake is paramount in understanding the mechanisms of fluoride metabolism, specifically the prevention of dental caries, dental fluorosis, and skeletal fluorosis. A database for fluoride is needed for epidemiologists and health researchers to estimate the intakes, and to investigate the relationships between intakes and human health. Resources in this dataset:Resource Title: READ ME - USDA National Fluoride Database of Selected Beverages and Foods, Release 2. File Name: F02.pdfResource Description: Describes methods and procedures, data generation and evaluation, formats of tables, data dissemination, references cited in the documentation and database, and other miscellaneous information about this database. Resource Title: Fluoride Database of Selected Beverages and Foods (Release 2). File Name: F02.xlsResource Description: This file contains the Fluoride Database imported into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. You need Excel 2000 or later to use this file. </ul

Sodium Monitoring Dataset

The Agricultural Research Service of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in collaboration with other government agencies has a program to track changes in the sodium content of commercially processed and restaurant foods. This monitoring program includes these activities: Tracking sodium levels of ~125 popular foods, called "Sentinel Foods," by periodically sampling them at stores and restaurants around the country, followed by laboratory analyses. Tracking levels of "related" nutrients that could change when manufacturers reformulate their foods to reduce sodium; these related nutrients are potassium, total and saturated fat, total dietary fiber, and total sugar. Sharing the results of these monitoring activities to the public periodically in the Sodium Monitoring Dataset and USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference and once every two years in the Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies. The Sodium Monitoring Dataset is downloadable in Excel spreadsheet format. Resources in this dataset:Resource Title: Data Dictionary. File Name: SodiumMonitoringDataset_datadictionary.csvResource Description: Defines variables, descriptions, data types, character length, etc. for each of the spreadsheets in this Excel data file: Sentinel Foods - Baseline; Priority-2 Foods - Baseline; Sentinel Foods - Monitoring; Priority-2 Foods - Monitoring.Resource Title: Sodium Monitoring Dataset (MS Excel download). File Name: SodiumMonitoringDatasetUpdatedJuly2616.xlsxResource Description: Microsoft Excel : Sentinel Foods - Baseline; Priority-2 Foods - Baseline; Sentinel Foods - Monitoring; Priority Foods - Monitoring.</p

Nutritive value of foods /

Includes index.Mode of access: Internet.