NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF A HIGH-CARBOHYDRATE DIET AS CONSUMED BY CHILDREN - THE BOGALUSA HEART-STUDY

To study the nutritional adequacy of a high carbohydrate diet as consu med by children in a 24-h period, a sample of 568 10-y-old children wa s stratified into four levels of carbohydrate intake: <45% of total en ergy (kJ), 45%-50% energy, 50%-55% energy, and >55% energy. Compositio n of the diet for those consuming >55% energy from carbohydrates was a dequate in total energy, with 29% energy from fat, 11% energy from sat urated fatty acid, an average of 88 mg dietary cholesterol/4200 kJ and less than 10% energy from sucrose. Increased carbohydrate intake was attributed to an increased consumption of total sugars, starch and fib er. The percentage of children meeting two thirds or more of the Recom mended Dietary Allowances for niacin and tint: was lower in the high c arbohydrate intake group than in any of the low carbohydrate intake gr oups. Children with a high carbohydrate intake consumed more fruits, b reads, grains, milk, desserts, candy and non-dairy beverages than thos e with a lower carbohydrate intake who consumed more meats. To meet cu rrent dietary recommendations for increased carbohydrate intake when m eal patterns are designed, it is necessary to incorporate adequate amo unts of foods from all of the food groups to maximize nutritional qual ity.