ENERGY, PROTEIN AND CARBOHYDRATE INTAKE IN RELATION TO ANTHROPOMETRIC PARAMETERS AT DIFFERENT MEALTIMES IN CHILDREN OF EVANES STUDY

Background and objectives: Indigenous communities, especially in rural regions, are more vulnerable to malnutrition. In rural schools of Ecuador, a fortified collation is provided to children, consisting of biscuit and colada, a typical drink, which is prepared using a flour mixture (quinoa, bean, peas and corn). Hence, our objective was to compare the association between anthropometric parameters and energy, protein and carbohydrate intake at different mealtimes in children from a rural school in Andean region. Methods: It was included 100 schoolchildren (7.8 ± 2.17 years) from San Juan (indigenous community), Chimborazo, Ecuador, belonging to EVANES study. Dietary intake was evaluated at each mealtime (breakfast, mid-morning collation, lunch, mid-afternoon collation and dinner) using a nutritional survey. Energy, protein and carbohydrate consumption was determined from the corresponding standard portion size, transforming the data into gr or ml, and using food-composition tables from Ecuador. Weight and height were measured in duplicate, and body mass index [BMI, weight (Kg)/height (m)2] was calculated. Standard deviation score of height and BMI were determined, applying the AnthroPlus software, which is based on Child Growth Standards of Word Heath Organization (2007). Data analysis was performed using SPSS, version 20.0, considering statistical significant differences at p