Fatty acid intakes of children and adolescents are not in line with the dietary intake recommendations for future cardiovascular health

Fatty acid composition of the diet may influence cardiovascular risk from early childhood onwards. This study was to perform a systematic review of dietary fat and fatty acid intakes in children and adolescents from different countries around the world and compare these with the population nutrient intake goals for prevention of chronic diseases as defined by the World Health Organization.

Fatty acid intake data from thirty countries (mainly from developed countries) were included. In twenty-eight of the thirty countries, mean Saturated Fatty Acid intakes were higher than the recommended maximum of 10% energy, whereas in twenty-one out of thirty countries mean Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid intakes were below recommended (6–10% energy).

The available data clearly indicate that in the majority of the countries providing data on fatty acid intake, less than half of the children and adolescents meet the SFA and PUFA intake goals that are recommended for the prevention of chronic diseases. British Journal of Nutrition, May 2011