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. 2023 Jan 6;42:2. doi: 10.1186/s41043-022-00337-3

Table 2.

Characteristics of the studies that examined the relationship between dietary diversity and micronutrient adequacy in children of 2–5 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
Arsenault [28] Bangladesh/cross-sectional 480/24–48 months 12-h weighed food records and 12-h recall/2 d 9/2 different DDS based on minimum amount of foods consumed 11/Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin A, iron, calcium, and zinc –/WHO Age, breast-feeding, stunted, wasted, season, and housing quality MPA was positively associated with both DDS (p < 0.0001)
Diop [29] Burkina Faso/cross-sectional 1066/24–59 months 24-h recall/24 h 11 and 7/MDD: ≥ 4 food groups 11/vitamin A, vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folate, calcium, zinc, and iron FAO and WHO/WHO Energy intake Both FGS-10 and FGS-7 had a positive linear association with MPAs (p < 0.001)
Kennedy [30] Philippine/cross-sectional 3164/24–71 months 24-h recall/24 h 9/DDS: ranged 0–9 11/Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin A, iron, calcium, and zinc –/WHO Child age, sex, weight, and height, and energy intake DDS was significant predictors of adequate micronutrient intake (p < 0.001)
Torrico [31] Philippines/cross-sectional 1262/3–5 years 24-h recall/24 h 10/- 6/Iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin FAO/PDRI 2015 There was significant positive correlation between MAR and DDS (r = 0.29; p < 0.0001)
Zhao [32] China/cross-sectional 1694/3–6 years 24-h dietary record/24 h 10/DDS ranged 0 to 9. Consuming at least 10 g from a unique food group except for the group of oils and fats 11/Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin A, iron, calcium, and zinc FAO/FAO Energy intake DDS was positively correlated with indicators of micronutrient adequacy (p < 0.05)

DD dietary diversity, DDS dietary diversity score, FAO Food and Agriculture Organization, FGS food group score, FVS food variety score, MAR mean adequacy ratio, MPA mean probability of adequacy, NAR nutrient adequacy ratio, PDRI 2015 Philippine Dietary Reference Intakes 2015, WHO World Health Organization