Predicting NAE from dietary intakes, food tables, and anthropometric data is also applicable during growth and yields appropriate estimates even when self-selected diets are consumed. The PRAL estimate based on only 4 nutrients may allow relatively simple assessment of the acidity of foods and diets.

Although direct effects of UFF and UFE on body composition were not shown, our findings strongly suggest that a higher adrenocortical activity is one endocrine-metabolic feature of healthy children with higher body fat. Whether urinary GC is a long-term predictor of fat gain during childhood should be analyzed in future studies.

The bioavailability of iron from ferrous fumarate was not improved by the addition of Na(2)EDTA, contrary to what was previously shown for ferrous sulfate in other cereal-based meals. However, the bioavailability of iron from the test meal was significantly enhanced when NaFeEDTA replaced ferrous sulfate. These results support the use of NaFeEDTA in the fortification of inhibitory staple foods such as corn masa flour.

The FFM estimate proved to be the better predictor for muscularity in healthy prepubertal children and is on a par with UAMA during puberty. FFM can be recommended as a simple anthropometric method to assess nutritional status before puberty, at least in healthy children.