Bound Volume Number
VII
Degree Type
Honors Capstone Project
Date of Submission
Spring 5-5-2015
Capstone Advisor
Dr. Lynn S. Brann
Honors Reader
Dr. Kay Bruening
Capstone Major
Nutrition Science and Dietetics
Capstone College
Sport and Human Dynamics
Audio/Visual Component
no
Keywords
adolescent, dietary recommendations
Capstone Prize Winner
no
Won Capstone Funding
no
Honors Categories
Professional
Subject Categories
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition
Abstract
Diets of children and adolescents are often lacking in key nutrients due to their low intakes of important food groups (e.g. fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and dairy). This study examined nutrients of concern for growing girls compared to dietary recommendations. Specifically iron and calcium were analyzed to determine the highest dietary sources of these micronutrients and the impact of supplementation on girls’ mean intake. This cross-sectional analysis used a subset of data from a longitudinal study of growth and development in active Caucasian girls (n=74). Dietary data and supplement use were collected using the Youth Adolescent Questionnaire (Rockett, Wolf & Colditz, 1995). Based on the girls’ age groups, information on intake of the key nutrients, with and without dietary supplements, was compared to the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). All girls showed a lower vitamin D and calcium intake, even with supplementation usage, than is suggested by the DRI. While all girls met iron needs with supplementation included, the older girls (n=16, ages 14-18 years old) did not meet the RDA for iron without supplementation. The younger girls (n=58, ages 9-13 years old) did meet iron needs without supplementation. About half (47 percent) of the younger girls and about a third (33 percent) of the older girls reported consuming dietary supplements. Within this population of girls, particularly those 14-18 years old, nutrients of concern were identified, which included nutrients targeted as public health concerns. Further research needs to focus on examining the intake of key nutrients over time, with consideration to bioavailability and validity of dietary assessment, to identify strategies to improve the dietary intake of children and adolescents.
Recommended Citation
Castro, Katelyn E. and Karp, Sydney, "Examination of Dietary Intake and Supplement Use Among Girls Ages 9-18, with Emphasis on Calcium and Iron" (2015). Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All. 871.
https://surface.syr.edu/honors_capstone/871
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
