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Dietary patterns of Australian pre-schoolers and associations with haem and non-haem iron intakes

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Abstract

Purpose

To describe Australian pre-schooler dietary patterns and examine their associations with dietary iron intakes.

Methods

Dietary data of children (n = 812, 2 to < 6 years old) from the 2011–12 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey were collected via two non-consecutive 24-h recalls and analysed using AUSNUT 2011–13. Usual food and nutrient intakes were estimated via Multiple Source Method. Principal component analysis was used to extract dietary patterns from 32 food groups. Associations between dietary patterns and energy-adjusted iron intakes were assessed using linear regression, accounting for the complex survey design.

Results

Mean (SD) usual total dietary and haem iron intakes were 6.3 (1.9) and 0.5 (0.3) mg/day, respectively. Three dietary patterns were identified, explaining 14% of the variance. Pattern 1 (positive loadings for cheese, breads, fats and oils, and water) was positively associated with total dietary iron intakes (β = 0.08, 95% CI 0.01, 0.15). Pattern 3 (positive loadings for red meat, fortified fruit and vegetable products, and sauces and spreads) was negatively associated with total dietary iron (β = − 0.08, 95% CI − 0.14, − 0.01) and non-haem iron (β = − 0.09, 95% CI − 0.15, − 0.02) intakes. No dietary patterns were associated with haem iron intakes.

Conclusions

Three main patterns characterise Australian pre-schooler diets. The pattern with which dietary iron is positively associated is predominately characterised by non-haem iron sources and non-iron-fortified foods. Future research is required to estimate the iron bioavailability of Australian pre-schooler diets.

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Acknowledgements

SA McNaughton was supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Career Development Fellowship Level 2 (ID1104636, 2016–2019).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia

    Linda A. Atkins, Sarah A. McNaughton, Alison C. Spence & Ewa A. Szymlek-Gay

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  1. Linda A. Atkins
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  2. Sarah A. McNaughton
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  3. Alison C. Spence
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  4. Ewa A. Szymlek-Gay
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Contributions

EAS-G conceptualized the study and all authors contributed to its design and data analysis plan; LAA prepared the haem iron database with advice from EAS-G; LAA performed the statistical analyses and drafted the manuscript. All authors contributed to a critical review of the manuscript during the writing process and approved the final version as submitted.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ewa A. Szymlek-Gay.

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The Census and Statistics Act, 1905 provides the authority for the Australian Bureau of Statistics to collect statistical information and requires that statistical output shall not be published or disseminated in a manner that is likely to enable the identification of a particular person or organisation. Therefore, all information received by the Australian Bureau of Statistics has been treated in strict confidence as required by the Census and Statistics Act 1905.

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Atkins, L.A., McNaughton, S.A., Spence, A.C. et al. Dietary patterns of Australian pre-schoolers and associations with haem and non-haem iron intakes. Eur J Nutr 60, 3059–3070 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-020-02477-w

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