Dietary flavonoids among children and adolescents in the Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed (DONALD) study: intake, food sources and trends from 1985 until 2016

Abstract

Flavonoids are suggested to reduce disease risk. Since dietary habits are acquired during early life, describing age and time trends of flavonoid intake and major food sources are important for monitoring and disease prevention in later life. We aimed to describe total flavonoid intake and food sources, and investigate age and time trends of flavonoid intake in 3 to 18 year-olds, from the DONALD Study from 1985 to 2016. Intake was assessed annually using 3-day weighed food records (WFR). Flavonoid values were assigned using the USDA database. Foods contributing to intake were determined. Age and time trends in total flavonoid and isoflavone density were analysed by sex with PROC MIXED. In total 1312 children completed 10758 WFR. Across all ages, daily mean total flavonoid density was lower in boys compared to girls (134 vs 146 mg/1000 kcal) and no difference in median isoflavone density (0.04 mg/1000 kcal/d) was found. Top 5 foods contributing to total flavonoid intake were apple with peel (15.0/17.1%), strawberries (5.9/6.1%), chocolate spread (3.9/3.5%), orange juice (3.5/3.4%), and pasta (3.5/3.4%) for boys and girls, respectively. Overall, in boys total flavonoid density decreased over the course of age and time. In girls there was no association with age or time. In both sexes, isoflavone density followed a U-shaped age trend with no change over time. From a public health perspective, the overall observed downward trend of flavonoid intake in boys deserves attention. Future initiatives should be tailored at maintaining a high flavonoid density as children age, specifically among boys.

Mean ± Standard Deviation Intake Values for 1–<10-Year-Old South African Children for Application in the Assessment of the Inflammatory Potential of Their Diets Using the DII® Method: Developmental Research

“…Total polyphenol intake by season (winter versus spring) was also explored in an Italian study involving 8–10-year-old children [ 40 ]. This study [ 40 ] noted lower median intakes of total flavonoids than German colleagues [ 48 ], as well as differing median intakes for flavan-3-ols, flavanones, flavones and isoflavones when compared to the current study. While intakes for flavonols and anthocyanidins were more comparable between the Italian [ 40 ] and the current study, the aforementioned differences emphasize the need to further develop and include these nutrients in national food composition databases.…”

“…It also appears that other researchers were not always able to discern clear trends for dietary flavonoid intakes in children. The Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed (DONALD) study in Germany estimated the intake of total flavonoids and isoflavones in 1312 children between 1985–2016 [ 48 ]. These researchers noted an increasing trend for total flavonoid intake with increasing age in both boys and girls aged 3–12 years; however, similar to the current study, they did not observe an obvious trend for total isoflavone intake with increasing age [ 48 ].…”

“…The Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed (DONALD) study in Germany estimated the intake of total flavonoids and isoflavones in 1312 children between 1985–2016 [ 48 ]. These researchers noted an increasing trend for total flavonoid intake with increasing age in both boys and girls aged 3–12 years; however, similar to the current study, they did not observe an obvious trend for total isoflavone intake with increasing age [ 48 ]. Total polyphenol intake by season (winter versus spring) was also explored in an Italian study involving 8–10-year-old children [ 40 ].…”

The association of dietary choline and betaine and anthropometric measurements among Iranian children: a cross-sectional study

“…Several studies have explored the association between individual foods, nutrients [17][18][19], and dietary patterns [20][21][22][23] and anthropometric measurements in children. However, there is limited evidence regarding the association between other dietary components such as choline and betaine, as methyl donor compounds, and anthropometric measurements.…”