Gesundheitswesen 2010; 72 - P164
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

M Standl 1, S Sausenthaler 1, A Buyken 2, P Rzehak 3, S Koletzko 4, C Bauer 5, B Schaaf 6, A von Berg 7, D Berdel 7, M Borte 8, O Herbarth 9, I Lehmann 10, U Krämer 11, H Wichmann 12, J Heinrich 1
  • 1Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg
  • 2Research Institute of Child Nutrition, Affiliated Institute of the University of Bonn, Dortmund
  • 3Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Institute of Medical Data Management, Biometrics and Epidemiology, Neuherberg/München
  • 4Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Munich, München
  • 55 Technical University of Munich, Department of Pediatrics, München
  • 6Medical Practice for Pediatrics, Bad Honnef
  • 7Marien-Hospital Wesel, Department of Pediatrics, Wesel
  • 8University of Leipzig, Department of Pediatrics, Municipal Hospital „St. Georg“ Leipzig, Children's Hospital, Leipzig
  • 9University of Leipzig, Faculty of Medicine, Environmental Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Leipzig
  • 10Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Leipzig
  • 11IUF, Institut für Umweltmedizinische Forschung at the University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf
  • 12Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Research Institute of Child Nutrition, Affiliated Institute of the University of Bonn, Neuherberg

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.