Dietary inadequacy is associated with anemia and suboptimal growth among preschool-aged children in Yunnan Province, China

Abstract This study documented the relationships among dietary intake, growth failure, and anemia in a convenience sample of 172 children aged 1 to 5 years in rural Yunnan Province, China. We hypothesized that most children would have suboptimal intakes of key nutrients associated with child growth and anemia and that undernutrition would be more common in children with poor growth and in those who were anemic. Nutrient intakes from three 24-hour recalls were compared with the Dietary Reference Intakes. Height/length and weight were compared with World Health Organization Child Growth Standards to determine if children were malnourished (z score < −2 SD median). Blood was tested for anemia (hemoglobin