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Anthocyanins in the diet of children and adolescents: intake, sources and trends

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Abstract

Purpose

Anthocyanin intake estimations in large cohorts include almost exclusively adults. For the purpose of early dietary prevention, however, it is of great interest to estimate anthocyanin intake of children and adolescents.

Methods

Anthocyanidin content values from the USDA Database (excluding the values for bananas and nuts) were assigned to foods consumed by 4–18-year-old participants of the DONALD Study. Between 1990 and 2009, 920 participants provided 6,707 3-day weighed dietary records. Intake of anthocyanins (expressed as their aglycones anthocyanidins) and their food sources were determined. For investigating age and time trends in anthocyanidin density (mg/MJ), a polynomial mixed regression model was built.

Results

We found the estimated median anthocyanidin intake to be around 6 mg/day, strawberries representing the main source. Anthocyanidin density of the diet was about 0.2 mg/MJ higher in girls than in boys, decreased with age, decreased over time in the first half of the study period and increased over time thereafter.

Conclusions

Anthocyanin intake in the young is characterised by differences in anthocyanidin density of the diet between girls and boys and by decreasing density from young childhood to adolescence. Observations in this German study population should be extended by further studies in other countries.

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Acknowledgments

The DONALD Study is supported by the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Research of North Rhine Westphalia, Germany. This work was supported by a research grant (No. 0315379C) from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Conflict of interest

The authors do not have any financial or personal conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute of Child Nutrition, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University Bonn, Heinstueck 11, 44225, Dortmund, Germany

    Claudia Drossard, Katja Bolzenius & Mathilde Kersting

  2. Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Justus Liebig University Gießen, Wilhelmstr. 20, 35392, Gießen, Germany

    Clemens Kunz

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  1. Claudia Drossard
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  2. Katja Bolzenius
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  3. Clemens Kunz
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  4. Mathilde Kersting
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Correspondence to Claudia Drossard.

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Drossard, C., Bolzenius, K., Kunz, C. et al. Anthocyanins in the diet of children and adolescents: intake, sources and trends. Eur J Nutr 52, 667–676 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-012-0371-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-012-0371-z

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