Preschoolers short on fiber, dairy, says new analysis

• A Penn State analysis of the diets of a nationally representative sample of U.S. preschoolers, ages 2 to 5, shows that more than three-quarters of the children are not getting enough fiber.
• Children who consumed the most fiber also had the most nutrient-rich diets.
• Dr. Sibylle Kranz, assistant professor of nutritional sciences who led the study, says, "There is clinical evidence that children with low fiber intakes are at risk of chronic constipation.
• For example, fiber has been shown to lower cardiovascular risk in adults.
• The study is detailed in the February issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association in a paper, Dietary Fiber Intake by American Preschoolers is Associated with More Nutrient-Dense Diets.
• In the study, dietary consumption estimates were based on 2-day averages of 5,437 children whose parents provided information in the 1994-1996 and 1998 Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
• The researchers conducted separate analyses on the 2 and 3 years olds and the 4 and 5 year olds and compared them.
• These guidelines propose that Americans of all ages consume 14 g total fiber per every 1,000 calories based on evidence for reduced cardiovascular disease risk at that level.
• The main fiber sources consumed by the children were, in order: low-fiber fruits, such as applesauce; legumes; and high-fiber cereal.
• Other low-fiber, low-nutrient foods that contributed very small amounts of fiber to the children's diets included pizza and other high-fat, grain-based mixed dishes and high-fat salty snacks such as chips.
• "An easy substitution to get more fiber into their diets is to change to whole-grain products and high-fiber cereals.
• The study was supported by a seed grant from the Penn State College of Health and Human Development.