Time trends in the consumption of dairy foods in German children and adolescents.
Examination of time trends in the consumption of dairy food and their impact on fat and calcium intakes in German children and adolescents. Dietary records from the DONALD Study (DOrtmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed Study). 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. 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 -7.4 g/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 1-3 y olds. 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.