Table 3 Characteristics of the studies that examined the relationship between dietary diversity and micronutrient adequacy in children under 5 years old
First author (Year) | Country/study design | Sample size/age of infants | Method and duration of food intake assessment | No. of food groups considered/classification of DD | No. and type of micronutrients considered | DD criteria, MAR criteria | Adjusted covariates | Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bekele [33] | Ethiopia/cross-sectional | 538/6–59 months | 24-h recall/one week | 7/Good DD: ≥ 4 food groups | 9/Thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin C, vitamin A, iron, calcium, and zinc | WHO/FAO | – | DDS ≥ 4 provided better predictions of MAR with 80.8% sensitivity and 45.8% specificity, and 60% correct classifications |
Steyn [34] | Africa/cross-sectional | 795/1–3 years 861/4–6 years | 24-h recall/24 h | 9 food groups for assessment DDS and 45 items for determination of FVS | 11/Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin A, iron, calcium, and zinc | FAO/WHO-FAO | Energy intake | There was a high correlation between MAR and both FVS and DDS (p = 0.0001) |
Steyn [35] | Africa/cross-sectional | 795/1–3 years 861/4–6 years | 24-h recall/24 h | 6, 9, 13, and 21/- | 11/Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin A, iron, calcium, and zinc | FAO/WHO-FAO | Energy intake | DDS based on 6, 9, 13, and 21 food groups was associated with MAR (p < 0.0001) |