Energy and nutrient intake across Nova food groups by quintiles of ultra-processed food energy contribution among Brazilian children aged 6–59 months

Abstract

The objective is to describe energy, macro- and micronutrient intake according to Nova food groups and to estimate its association with ultra-processed foods (UPF) energy participation in the diets of children, stratified by age (6–23 m/24–59 m). A single 24-h recall from 12 553 children in the Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition was used to estimate the relative energy contribution of Nova groups: unprocessed or minimally processed foods and culinary ingredients (G1 + G2); processed foods (G3) and UPF (G4). Age-stratified linear regression and 95 % CI assessed differences in nutrient intake (per 1000 kcal) across UPF energy quintiles. The G1 + G2 group accounted for most of the energy consumed (6–23 m: 74·5 %; 24–59 m: 65·1 %) compared with G3 or G4. For both age groups, in the lowest quintile of UFP participation, ≤ 2 % of energy came from UPF, while in the highest quintile, this proportion was > 55 % and the G1 + G2 group provided most nutrients. In 6–23 m, higher UPF quintiles were associated with lower fat (β: –3·1 (–3·6, –2·5)), potassium (β: –49·7 (–67·9, –31·4)) and vitamin A RAE (β: –113·7 (–136·7, –90·6)) intake, but higher Ca ((β: 75·5 (57·6, 93·4)), Fe (β: 2·9 (2·5, 3·3)), vitamin A RE (β: 104·3 (72·3, 136·3)) and folate (β: 15·7 (12·0, 19·5)) intake. In 24–59 m, nutrient intake generally decreased with increasing UPF quintiles. For 6–23 m/24–59 m, UPF consumption was positively associated with energy (β: 73·6 (44·6, 102·7); 92·8 (66·7, 118·8), respectively) and carbohydrate (β: 7·3 (5·8, 8·7); 2·3 (1·2, 3·3), respectively), while contributing little to overall micronutrient intake.