Low-Fat Diets May Lack Vitamins for Children
Families who eat low-fat diets for the sake of adults to lose weight may be depriving young children of needed vitamins, a new study found.
Two-thirds of 22 preschool children studied in Lincoln, Neb., lacked recommended levels of vitamin E and one-third were short on vitamin C, the Associated Press reported of research conducted by scientists at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The researchers attributed most of the deficiencies to parents' low-fat diets, the wire service said. Ideal levels of these vitamins were based on recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences and adjusted for children, the researchers noted.
Some child nutrition experts consulted by the wire service said they were shocked at the study's findings, noting that vitamin deficiencies are considered rare in the United States. Vitamin C, they noted, is easy enough to obtain from a relatively small amount of fruit or a vitamin supplement, the AP reported.
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