Vitamin intake of 3-to 36-month-old German infants and children - Results of the DONALD-study

Infants and young children are a vulnerable group with regard to nutrition. However, there is a lack of information about the dietary composition of h ealthy German infants and children. Therefore, the intake of vitamins (A, C , E, B-1. B-2, B-6, folate, niacin) was assessed in 354 healthy German infa nts and children aged 3 to 36 months from 3-day-weighed diet records and co mpared with German, European and US reference values. Intake of all B-vitam ins (B-1, B-2, B-6, folate, niacin) increased during the first 3 years of l ife, whereas intake of vitamin E decreased. Intake of vitamin A and C varie d between age groups. The highest levels of the nutrient densities of most vitamins were found at the end of the first year of life. Depending on the reference values chosen, the vitamin supply of the study population ranged between sufficient and very good. The reported satisfactory intake of vitam ins in infants and young children in this study gives rise to the question of whether the current extent of fortification of commercial infant food in Germany is necessary.