Thin-layer Chromatographic Determination of L-Ascorbic, L-Dehydroascorbic and 2.3-Diketo-L-gulonic Acids in Animal Tissues, Blood and Urine

Peer Reviewe

The food composition and dietary intake of 1-2 years old children from two regions of the Czech Republic

Nutrition plays an important role in the health and development of children. Therefore, it is necessary to make the correct recommendations as well as knowing the real state of nutrition of the children involved. In the scope of prospective longitudinal monitoring of 200 children, randomly selected at birth from 2 regions of the Czech Republic, an examination of their dietary intake and food composition in the year 2000/2001 during their 14-25 months of age (mean 19.2±2.7 months) was performed. A standardised food frequency questionnaire was administered to the whole sample (response rate through mothers was 98%). Moreover, every second mother who has not yet breastfed the child was asked for a 24-h dietary weight record of her child (response rate 79%). Twelve percent of the children were long term breastfed. The “Food pyramid”of sample was created by the following daily portions: milk and dairy (3.5), other protein-rich food (1.0), fruits and vegetables (4.2) and cereals (2.5). The energy intake of non-breastfed children, comprising of 15% protein (41.7±17.4 g), 35% fat and 50% carbohydrates, was 4.9±1.6 MJ. The results of micronutrient dietary intake in comparison to the European “Population Reference Intake”were satisfying with the exception of iodine. The analysis of the nutrition of Czech children aged 14-25 months did not show any serious problem without a low representation of long-term breastfed children and probably lower intake of iodine, when compared with European recommendations