Trends in types of protein in US adolescents and children: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2010

BackgroundIt is unclear if the intakes of different types of protein have changed over time.ObjectiveWe delineated trends in types of protein (beef, pork, lamb or goat, chicken, turkey, fish, dairy, eggs, legumes, and nuts and seeds) in US children (2-MethodsWe used 6 repeated cross-sectional surveys (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2010, n≥1,665 for children; n≥1,156 for adolescents) to test for linear trends in the intake of types of protein (grams per kilogram of body weight) among children and adolescents, and according to sociodemographic groups and participation in food assistance programs.ResultsAmong children, pork intake (0.76 to 0.51 g/kg) decreased, but chicken (0.98 to 1.28 g/kg), all poultry (1.18 to 1.55 g/kg), egg (0.63 to 0.69 g/kg), and legume (0.35 to 0.54 g/kg) intake increased (all PPPConclusionsIntake of recommended types of protein increased among children, adolescents and WIC participants. However, subgroup analyses suggest socioeconomic disparities.