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Food variety and dietary diversity scores in children: are they good indicators of dietary adequacy?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

NP Steyn ,
JH Nel ,
G Nantel ,
G Kennedy  and
D Labadarios
NP Steyn*
Affiliation:
Chronic Diseases of Lifestyle Unit, Medical Research Council, PO Box 19070, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa
JH Nel
Affiliation:
Department of Logistics, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
G Nantel
Affiliation:
Food and Nutrition Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy
G Kennedy
Affiliation:
Food and Nutrition Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy
D Labadarios
Affiliation:
Department of Human Nutrition, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch and Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Tygervalley, South Africa
*
*Corresponding author: Email nelia.steyn@mrc.ac.za
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Abstract

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Objective

To assess whether a food variety score (FVS) and/or a dietary diversity score (DDS) are good indicators of nutrient adequacy of the diet of South African children.

Methods

Secondary data analyses were undertaken with nationally representative data of 1–8-year-old children (n = 2200) studied in the National Food Consumption Study in 1999. An average FVS (mean number of different food items consumed from all possible items eaten) and DDS (mean number of food groups out of nine possible groups) were calculated. A nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) is the ratio of a subject's nutrient intake to the estimated average requirement calculated using the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization (2002) recommended nutrient intakes for children. The mean adequacy ratio (MAR) was calculated as the sum of NARs for all evaluated nutrients divided by the number of nutrients evaluated, expressed as a percentage. MAR was used as a composite indicator for micronutrient adequacy. Pearson correlation coefficients between FVS, DDS and MAR were calculated and also evaluated for sensitivity and specificity, with MAR taken as the ideal standard of adequate intake. The relationships between MAR and DDS and between anthropometric Z-scores and DDS were also evaluated.

Results

The children had a mean FVS of 5.5 (standard deviation (SD) 2.5) and a mean DDS of 3.6 (SD 1.4). The mean MAR (ideal = 100%) was 50%, and was lowest (45%) in the 7–8-year-old group. The items with the highest frequency of consumption were from the cereal, roots and tuber group (99.6%), followed by the ‘other group’ (87.6%) comprising items such as tea, sugar, jam and sweets. The dairy group was consumed by 55.8%, meat group by 54.1%, fats by 38.9%, other vegetables by 30.8%, vitamin-A-rich by 23.8%, other fruit by 22%, legumes and nuts by 19.7% and eggs by 13.3%. There was a high correlation between MAR and both FVS (r = 0.726; P < 0.0001) and DDS (r = 0.657; P < 0.0001), indicating that either FVS or DDS can be used as an indicator of the micronutrient adequacy of the diet. Furthermore, MAR, DDS and FVS showed significant correlations with height-for-age and weight-for-age Z-scores, indicating a strong relationship between dietary diversity and indicators of child growth. A DDS of 4 and an FVS of 6 were shown to be the best indicators of MAR less than 50%, since they provided the best sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusion

Either FVS or DDS can be used as a simple and quick indicator of the micronutrient adequacy of the diet.

Keywords

Dietary diversityFood varietyMean adequacy ratioDietary diversity scoreFood variety score
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 9 , Issue 5 , August 2006 , pp. 644 - 650
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2006

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