Estimación teórica de la ingesta diaria de carotenoides en los escolares españoles (3-9 años)

Abstract

Background: Fuits and vegetables are a rich source of carotenoids, which provide health benefits. Carotenoids that have been consumed and studied more in deep are β-carotene, α-carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthin, β-criptoxanthin and lutein. Since the prevention of chronic diseases must start at early ages the aim of this work was to quantify the intake of carotenoids in the Spanish school children (3-9 years). Methods: The national survey food consumption in children and adolescents (ENALIA) of 2014 and carotenoid data based have been used to estimate average intake of carotenoids (total and individual) per day and person. Results: The average carotenoids intake in this population is 2807,7 µg/person/day, being β-carotene the most ingested, followed by lycopene, lutein, β-criptoxantin and zeaxanthin. Conclusions: Due to are not established DRI for carotenoids, cannot be concluded if the intake is adequate o not in the Spanish child population. More studies are necessaries to determine the amount consumed and its effect on health, short and long term, and estimate DRI for this group.