Abstract:
We determined the associations of dietary patterns with energy/nutrient intakes and
diet quality. Previously collected single 24‐hr dietary recalls for children aged
6–11 months (n = 1,585), 12–17 months (n = 1,131), and 18–24 months (n = 620)
from four independent studies in low socio‐economic populations in South Africa
were pooled. A maximum‐likelihood factor model, with the principal‐factor method,
was used to derive dietary (food) patterns. Associations between dietary pattern
scores and nutrient intakes were determined using Kendall's Rank Correlations, with
Bonferroni‐adjusted significance levels. For both 6–11 months and 12–17 months,
the formula milk/reverse breast milk pattern was positively associated with energy
and protein intake and mean adequacy ratio (MAR). The family foods pattern
(6–11 months) and rice and legume pattern (12–17 months) were positively associated
with plant protein, fibre, and PU fat; both for total intake and nutrient density of the
complementary diet. These two patterns were also associated with the dietary diversity
score (DDS; r = 0.2636 and r = 0.2024, respectively). The rice pattern
(18–24 months) showed inverse associations for nutrient intakes and nutrient densities,
probably because of its inverse association with fortified maize meal. The more
westernized pattern (18–24 months) was positively associated with unfavourable
nutrients, for example, saturated fat and cholesterol. These results highlight that
underlying dietary patterns varied in terms of energy/nutrient composition, nutrient
adequacy, nutrient densities of the complementary diet, and dietary diversity.
