Estado nutricional e qualidade da dieta de pré-escolares e escolares de uma área socioeconomicamente vulnerável

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the nutritional status related to iron, zinc and copper, as well as the quality of the diet in a population of children and adolescents living in the Northeast region of Minas Gerais. A cross-sectional study was carried out, which evaluated 105 individuals aged between 2-11 years, included in the Project “Healthy Eating Practices, Social Representations and Community Action for Food Security in a Rural Community of Minas Gerais”. The socioeconomic profile and health history were evaluated. Nutritional assessment covered H/A and BMI/A indices, expressed in Z-scores. Assessment of food consumption was performed using a 24-hour recall and a food frequency questionnaire. Determination of serum minerals by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. We observed that 14.3% were stunted and 28.8% were overweight. The occurrence of stunting was higher among children with lower income and among those with helminth infestation. There was a high prevalence of excessive caloric consumption and differences in the average consumption of proteins, copper, iron and zinc. Among the latter two, there was an increase in the prevalence of insufficient consumption with increasing age. Low daily consumption of leafy greens and vegetables stood out, contrasting with high daily consumption of beans. There was a score for the BHEI-R of 44.93±12.99 points with a lower median score for the components “whole grains”, “milk and dairy products”, “sodium”, among others. In relation to serum minerals, lower values were observed among children aged 1 to 3 years. There was no correlation between dietary intake of minerals and their respective serum levels. It was concluded that in the population, characterized by low economic status, the process of nutritional transition occurs, with high prevalence of stunting and a high percentage of inadequacy of the evaluated minerals, which can lead to future implications such as lower professional performance in adulthood and increased in the occurrence of chronic diseases.