Time trends in the consumption of dairy foods in German children and adolescents

Objective: Examination of time trends in the consumption of dairy food and their impact on fat and calcium intakes in German children and adolescents. Design: Dietary records from the DONALD Study (DOrtmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed Study). Methods: A total of 5068 3-day weighed dietary records from 914 1 to 13-y-old children and adolescents collected between 1986 and 2001 were analysed using a mixed linear model, in which the means of the data and the covariance structure specific to the DONALD Study were modelled. Results: During the study period, the consumption of 'milk products' in children and adolescents ≥4 y remained stable, since the reduced consumption of 'fluid milk' (between -2.8 and -7.4g/day/study year) was compensated for by an increased consumption of'yoghurt' (between + 2.4 and + 3.3 g/day/study year). The consumption of 'cheese' increased in subjects ≥ 4 y (between + 0.2 and + 0.7 g/day/study year). In 1 to 3-y-old children, the decreased intake of 'fluid milk' (-6.5 g/day/study year) was not compensated for by the increased intake of 'formula' (+ 3.5 g/day/study year). The percentage of 'low-fat milk products' significantly increased (although not significant in 9-13-y-old boys) to nearly 25% of milk products. The impact of dairy food on fat intake (as percentage of energy intake) remained stable with the exception of a slight reduction in 4-8 y olds, the impact of dairy on calcium (as percentage of US adequate intake) decreased only in 1-3y olds. Conclusions: The consumption of dairy food remained widely stable over time in ≥4-y-old children and adolescents, but decreased in 1-3 y olds. A further decline in this age group would be undesirable as is the shift from common milk to formula. The intake of 'low-fat milk products' increased and should be continuously promoted.