Diet and Nutrition Survey of Infants and Young Children in Scotland, 2011

Key findings in relation to the DRVs

• Seventy seven per cent of boys and 74% of girls exceeded the EAR for energy.
• Mean protein intakes were well above the RNI in all age groups.
• Mean daily intakes of vitamins and minerals from all sources (including supplements), were above or close to the RNI for all age groups with the exception of vitamin D for non-breastfed children aged 12 to 18 months and for breastfed children (by any degree of breastfeeding), across all age groups, although these are underestimates as they do not include the contribution of breast milk to vitamin D intake.
• The proportion of children with daily intakes of vitamins and minerals from all sources below the LRNI was low (8% or less for all age groups) except for iron for children aged over 7 months (11% to 17%) and magnesium for infants aged 4 to 6 months (11%).
• Mean daily intakes of sodium were only 79% of the RNI for children aged 4 to 6 months, but increased to 203% for children aged 12 to 18 months. This equates to an intake of 2.5g salt per day for children aged 12 to 18 months, exceeding the population goal for this age group of no more than 2g salt per day.