MOTHER'S AGE AS A CONDITIONING FACTOR OF FOOD CONSUMPTION AND ENERGY AND NUTRIENTS INTAKE OF THEIR OFFSPRING AT PRE-SCHOOL AGE

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyse whether the mother's age at the offspring's birth may condition food consumption and energy and nutrients intake as well as the appropriateness of the diet of their offspring at pre-school age. Materials and methods: socio-economic, anthropometrical, and dietary data were collected from a group of 103 pre-school children from Madrid, and the population was divided according to the mother's age (= 26 years (percentile 25) or < 26 years) at birth. Results: Twenty-two point five of the mothers of the preschool children studied had their offspring before 26 years of age and 6.8% before 18. Children from younger mothers consumed less sugars (p < 0.01) and alcohol-free beverages (p < 0.05), but also less fruits (p < 0.01) and others (p < 0.05). The energy from fats was lower (p < 0.05) and that from carbohydrates higher (p < 0.05) among children with older mothers. Besides, the lipid profile was also better in this children, with less caloric intake from polyunsaturated fats (p < 0.05). Besides, fibre (p < 0.05) and vitamin C (p < 0.001) intake was higher in children from older mothers. Conclusions: It seems that mother's age may have an influence on dietary habits of their children and be a protection factor against dietary inappropriateness of the offspring, so that younger mothers might need special counselling in this respect.