[Food, energy and nutrient intake in children aged 5-12 in the autonomous community of Madrid, Spain: results of the 2001/2002 Children's Nutrition Survey].

Background: [corrected] In order to ascertain the food intake and nutritional situation of the children of the Community of Madrid, on which no updated information was available, the Institute of Public Health conducted the 2001/2001 Children's Nutrition Survey of the Community of Madrid (CNSCM). This study offers an analysis of the CNSCM that describes and evaluates the food, energy and nutrient intake of this segment of the population.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey on a representative sample of children aged 5-12 years from the Community of Madrid. Diet-related information was collected in 2001 and 2002 by means of two 24-hour recalls. Total daily food, energy and nutrient intake were studied. The analysis included only the 1852 children who had completed both 24-h recalls (90.8% of all interviews).

Results: The average daily food intake is 1460.7 grams/person/day. Except for dairy products, eggs and oils, intake from the basic food groups is inadequate, and is particularly low for fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables and garden vegetables in general. The resulting average energy and nutrition intake is 1905.9 kcal/person/day; 43.6% carbohydrates, 17.4% proteins, 39.0% fats (13.3% saturated fats, 16.8% monosaturated fats, 5.0% polyunsaturated fats); 363.8 mg cholegterol, 13.6 g of fiber and lower than recommended intakes of zinc, folic acid, vitamins D and E (both sexes) and iron and vitamin B6 (girls).

Conclusions: The diet of the children of the Community of Madrid shows a number of imbalances that should be improved: inadequate intake from basic food groups; excess of proteins, saturated fats and cholesterol; and a deficit of carbohydrates, fiber and certain micronutrients.