Background: Expert guidelines advise that intake of added sugars (ASs), free sugars, and saturated fats be limited to <10% total energy (TE), and that children's sodium not exceed 1500-1900 mg, yet intake among many older children and adolecents exceeds these limits. Although research suggests young children's diets influence future eating patterns, little is known about the intake of these nutrients throughout early childhood.
Objective: The objective of this study was to describe intake and leading sources of sugars, saturated fats, and sodium among US children from infancy through preschool age.
Design: Cross-sectional data from the NHANES 2009-2014 were used to estimate 1) mean intake of sugars [%TE from ASs, naturally occurring sugars (NOSs), and free sugars], saturated fats (%TE), and sodium (milligrams), 2) the proportion exceeding recommended limits, and 3) the leading sources of these nutrients in the diets of US (nonbreastfeeding) children <5 y old (n = 3345). Sampling weights and procedures to account for the complex sampling design were used to estimate intake by age and to compare across race/ethnicity, sex, and income subgroups.
Results: Nonbreastfeeding children <5 y old consumed a mean ± SE %TE of 10.1% ± 0.2% from ASs, 13.9% ± 0.2% from free sugars, 12.8% ± 0.1% from saturated fats, and 1804 ± 26 mg Na . Sugary beverages (sugar-sweetened beverages + 100% juices) contributed 6.7% ± 0.2% TE, with consumption lowest among higher-income children. AS and sodium consumption rose rapidly from infancy to age 1-<2 y and gradually thereafter. Saturated fat intake was highest in infancy and decreased to a mean ± SE of 11.3% ± 0.3% TE among 4-<5-y-olds. Intake exceeded recommended limits for ASs, free sugars, saturated fats, and sodium for 45%, 63%, 72%, and 67% of all children, respectively.
Conclusion: The consumption of sugars, fats, and sodium exceeds recommended guidelines before many US children reach school age.