Dietary Sources of Fiber Intake and Its Association with Socio-Economic Factors among Flemish Preschool Children

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Yi Lin⁴  Selin Bolca³  Stefanie Vandevijvere²  Willem De Keyzer⁴  Herman Van Oyen²  John Van Camp¹  Guy De Backer⁴  Stefaan De Henauw⁴ 

[1] Department of Food Safety and Food Quality, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; E-Mail:;Unit of Epidemiology, Scientific Institute of Public Health, J. Wytsmanstraat 14, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium; E-Mails:;Laboratory for Bioinformatics and Computational Genomics (BIOBIX), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; E-Mail:;Unit Nutrition and Food Safety, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; E-Mails:

关键词: dietary fiber intake;    preschool children;    socio-economic status;    Belgium;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms12031836

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The objectives were to assess total dietary fiber intake, identify the major sources of dietary fiber, and examine its association with socio-economic factors among Flemish preschoolers. Three-day estimated dietary records were collected from a representative sample of preschoolers 2.5–6.5 years old (n = 661; 338 boys, 323 girls). The mean dietary fiber intake (13.4 g/d) was lower than the intake level recommended by the Belgian Superior Health Council (70% boys and 81% girls below the guidelines). The most important contributor was the group of bread and cereals (29.5%), followed by fruits (17.8%), potatoes and grains (16.0%), energy-dense, low-nutritious foods (12.4%), and vegetables (11.8%). Multiple linear regression analyses showed that total fiber intake was associated with maternal education and parents’ employment. Overall, fiber intakes from high-nutritious foods (vegetables and fruits) were higher in preschoolers of higher educated mothers and those with one or both parents being employed. In conclusion, the majority of the preschoolers had dietary fiber intakes below the recommended level. Hence, dietary fiber should be promoted among parents of preschoolers and low socio-economic status families should be addressed in particular.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2011 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.