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DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1266671
Regional and socioeconomic differences in food, nutrient and supplement intake in school-age children in Germany. Results from the GINIplus and the LISAplus Study
Objective: The aim of this study was to describe regional differences in food, nutrient and supplement intake in German 9–12-year old children, and to analyze the association with parental education and household income. Methods: Data of 3435 children form the 10-year follow-up of the two prospective birth cohort studies GINIplus and LISAplus were analyzed. Data on food consumption and supplement intake were collected using a food frequency questionnaire, which has been designed for the specific study population. Information on parental education level and household income were derived form questionnaires. Results: Substantial differences in food intake were observed between the four study centres. The intake of bread, butter, eggs, pasta, vegetables/salad and fruit showed a significant direct relationship with the level of parental education after adjusting for gender, study centre and age, while the intake of margarine, meat products, pizza, desserts and soft drinks was inversely associated with parental education. Household income hat a weaker influence on the child's food intake. Conclusion: Nutritional education programmes for school-age children should therefore account for regional differences and parental education.