Evaluación nutricional de los menús servidos en las escuelas infantiles municipales de Granada / Nutritional assessment of the menus served in municipal nursery schools in Granada

INTRODUCCIÓN: El comedor escolar realiza hoy día un papel esencial en la nutrición infantil y en la consolidación de los hábitos alimentarios. En España, existen directrices para los menús escolares dirigidas especialmente a niños de 6-10 años, pero hay una falta de información sobre los centros de educación infantil, que acogen a niños en edad preescolar. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la composición y la oferta alimentaria en centros de educación infantil de la provincia de Granada. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio de los menús ofertados en escuelas municipales de Granada, con una población de 420 comensales de 2-6 años de edad. Se analizaron 20 menús, recogiendo información sobre ingredientes utilizados, proporción de los mismos en cada plato y forma de preparación. Se estudiaron el aporte de energía y nutrientes, y la frecuencia de la oferta semanal de los distintos grupos de alimentos. RESULTADOS: El contenido energético medio de los menús fue de 512,5 kcal, distribuido en proteínas (17,3%), hidratos de carbono (48,8%) y lípidos (33,9%). Se observó un aporte de fibra adecuado (7,8 g/día), pero escaso de calcio y cinc. La oferta de verduras y hortalizas fue adecuada, con una presencia diaria de ensalada, así como la de legumbres, carnes, pescados y frutas. CONCLUSIÓN: Los menús evaluados suponen un aporte energético adecuado, y una oferta correcta de los diferentes grupos de alimentos, especialmente verduras, frutas y ensaladas. Se aprecia un gran esfuerzo de los centros para adecuar las comidas a las recomendaciones nutricionales

INTRODUCTION: The school canteen plays today an essential role in child nutrition and for consolidating appropriate eating habits. In Spain, the guidelines for school meals have been established by the NAOS strategy and the Perseus program, and are especially aimed at school children of 6-10 years. However, there is a lack of information on menus offered in pre-school education centres, which take in children of pre-school age. The aim of this study was to evaluate the composition and the food supplied in pre-schools of the province of Granada. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A study was conducted on the menus offered in public pre-schools in Granada, with a population of 420 children aged 2-6 years old. A total of 20 menus were analysed, and details were collected including direct information on the ingredients used, the proportion of these in each dish, and the form of preparation. The daily intake of energy and nutrients, as well as the frequency of weekly supply of the different food groups were studied. RESULTS: The average energy content of the menus was 512.5 kcal, distributed into protein (17.3%), carbohydrates (48.8%), and lipids (33.9%). A suitable supply of fibre (7.8 g/day) was observed, but content of calcium and zinc did not reach recommended levels. The supply of vegetables was adequate, with a daily presence of salad, as well as vegetables, meat, fish and fruit. CONCLUSION: Menus evaluated represent an adequate content of energy, and proper supply of the different groups of foods, especially vegetables, fruits and salads. A great effort is observed in the centres to adapt meals to nutritional recommendations

[Nutritional assessment of the menus served in municipal nursery schools in Granada]. / Evaluación nutricional de los menús servidos en las escuelas infantiles municipales de Granada.

INTRODUCTION: The school canteen plays today an essential role in child nutrition and for consolidating appropriate eating habits. In Spain, the guidelines for school meals have been established by the NAOS strategy and the Perseus program, and are especially aimed at school children of 6-10 years. However, there is a lack of information on menus offered in pre-school education centres, which take in children of pre-school age. The aim of this study was to evaluate the composition and the food supplied in pre-schools of the province of Granada. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A study was conducted on the menus offered in public pre-schools in Granada, with a population of 420 children aged 2-6 years old. A total of 20 menus were analysed, and details were collected including direct information on the ingredients used, the proportion of these in each dish, and the form of preparation. The daily intake of energy and nutrients, as well as the frequency of weekly supply of the different food groups were studied. RESULTS: The average energy content of the menus was 512.5kcal, distributed into protein (17.3%), carbohydrates (48.8%), and lipids (33.9%). A suitable supply of fibre (7.8g/day) was observed, but content of calcium and zinc did not reach recommended levels. The supply of vegetables was adequate, with a daily presence of salad, as well as vegetables, meat, fish and fruit. CONCLUSION: Menus evaluated represent an adequate content of energy, and proper supply of the different groups of foods, especially vegetables, fruits and salads. A great effort is observed in the centres to adapt meals to nutritional recommendations.

Increased Maillard reaction products intake reduces phosphorus digestibility in male adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of consuming diets rich in Maillard reaction products (MRPs) on phosphorus bioavailability in male adolescents. METHODS: A 2-wk randomized two-period crossover trial was performed among healthy male adolescents aged 11-14 y (n = 20), with a 40-d washout period. The diets consumed were rich (brown diet) or poor (white diet) in MRPs. Three-day balances were performed on the last of each dietary period, and fasting blood samples were obtained. Dietary phosphorus utilization was examined by phosphorus intake in diet and phosphorus output in feces and urine, as measured colorimetrically by the vanadomolibdate procedure. Serum phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, and total alkaline phosphatase were determined. RESULTS: A tendency to increase daily phosphorus fecal excretion was observed subsequent to the brown diet consumption compared with the white diet (P = 0.10), which led to significant reductions in phosphorus apparent absorption (P = 0.03) and fractional absorption (P = 0.04). Values of apparent phosphorus retention and bioavailability tended to decrease after the high-MRP diet. Serum parameters analyzed remained unchanged between diets and were within normal values. CONCLUSION: The consumption of a rich-MRP diet in male adolescents had a negative influence on dietary phosphorus absorption, tending to decrease the phosphorus balance. Given the actual dietary habits of adolescents, possible long-term repercussions of this kind of diet should be studied.

The beneficial effect of Mediterranean dietary patterns on dietary iron utilization in male adolescents aged 11-14 years.

The effects of a diet based on Mediterranean patterns on iron bioavailability and iron status in adolescents were studied. The study was divided into two periods: basal period, in which 21 male adolescents consumed their habitual diet (basal diet); and nutritional intervention period, during which an experimental diet based on the Mediterranean model was consumed. Dietary iron utilization was studied by means of iron intake and iron output in faeces and urine, and iron status was analysed in fasting blood samples collected at the end of each period. No differences in total iron intake were found between diets, but consumption of the experimental diet increased iron absorption and retention compared with the basal diet. Biochemical parameters related to iron metabolism did not vary after the intervention period, although serum ferritin tended to increase. Therefore, a diet based on Mediterranean dietary patterns may improve dietary iron utilization during adolescence and may prevent iron deficiency.

Intake of Maillard reaction products reduces iron bioavailability in male adolescents.

The effects of diets with different Maillard reaction products (MRPs) content on biological iron utilization were compared using in vitro/in vivo assays. Diets were rich (brown diet, BD) or poor (white diet) in MRP. In vitro studies included iron solubility after in vitro digestion of diets and iron transport across Caco-2 cells. In the human assay 18 healthy adolescent males (11-14 years) participated in a 2-wk randomized two-period crossover trial. Subjects collected urine and faeces on the last 3 days of each dietary period, and fasting blood samples were obtained after periods. In vitro dietary iron availability was significantly lower with the BD than the white diet (9.52 and 12.92%, respectively), as a consequence of the lower iron solubility after the in vitro digestion, but not as a result of decreased transport of the remaining soluble iron. The BD consumption increased iron fecal excretion ( approximately 1.4-fold) and significantly decreased its bioavailability ( approximately 2.7-fold), mainly due to the effects found at digestive level. Serum biochemical parameters related to iron metabolism remained unaltered. It is concluded the presence of MRP in the diet negatively affects iron bioavailability. As iron deficiency may be related to learning impairment and to reductions of cognitive and physical functions, possible long-term effects of excessive MRP intake during adolescence warrant attention.

A Mediterranean dietary style improves calcium utilization in healthy male adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of consuming a diet based on the Mediterranean patterns on calcium availability and metabolism in male adolescents. DESIGN: A longitudinal study divided into two periods: a 3-day basal period, during which the subjects (n = 20; 12.9 +/- 1.14 years) consumed their usual diet (basal diet, BD), and a 28-day nutritional intervention period, in which an intervention Mediterranean-type diet - was consumed (ID). METHODS: Dietary calcium utilization was assessed by means of calcium intake in food and calcium output in feces and urine as measured by flame absorption spectrophotometry. In addition, markers of calcium metabolism (serum Ca, parathyroid hormone and total alkaline phosphatase) and bone resorption (urine deoxypiridinoline) were measured. RESULTS: No differences in total calcium intake were found between the two diets, but food sources of dietary calcium varied significantly. Compared with the BD, the consumption of the ID resulted in significant increases in calcium absorption (approximately 40%, p = 0.04) and retention (approximately 80%, p = 0.008), and a considerable decrease in urinary calcium excretion (approximately 40%, p = 0.01).The variations observed in bone markers reflected a higher bone turnover rate after the ID consumption. CONCLUSIONS: A varied diet based on Mediterranean diet patterns during adolescence greatly improves dietary calcium utilization, which may help to maximize the peak bone mass and prevent related diseases, such as osteoporosis.

Diets rich in Maillard reaction products affect protein digestibility in adolescent males aged 11-14 y.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents are nutritionally at risk because of their physiologic needs and dietary habits. Maillard reaction products (MRPs) are widely consumed by this population, mainly as a result of their high intake of fast food and snacks. OBJECTIVE: We compared the effects of diets with different MRP contents on dietary protein utilization in adolescent males aged 11-14 y. The brown diet (BD) was rich and the white diet (WD) was poor in MRP content (hydroxymethylfurfural: 3.87 and 0.94 mg/kg; fluorescence intensity: 21.04% and 7.31%, respectively). DESIGN: In a 2-period crossover trial, 18 healthy adolescent males were randomly assigned to 2 groups. The first group consumed the WD for 2 wk, observed a 40-d washout period, and then consumed the BD for 2 wk. The second group received the diets in the opposite order. Subjects collected urine and feces on the last 3 d of each dietary period. Fasting blood samples were collected after both periods. RESULTS: Compared with consumption of the WD, consumption of the BD resulted in 47% higher fecal nitrogen fecal excretion (P = 0.002), 12% lower apparent nitrogen absorption (P = 0.000), and a 6% lower nitrogen digestibility (P = 0.000). The apparent nitrogen retention and the utilization of ingested nitrogen did not differ significantly between the diets, although values after the BD tended to decrease. Serum biochemical variables related to nitrogen metabolism did not differ significantly. CONCLUSIONS: The consumption of a diet rich in MRPs negatively affects protein digestibility. The possible effects of an excessive intake of MRPs during adolescence warrant attention, and long-term effects should be considered.