Associations between High Protein Intake, Linear Growth, and Stunting in Children and Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study

作者：Ting Xiong, Yuanjue Wu, Jiazhen Hu, Shiqi Xu, Yan Li, Yan Li, Binxuan Kong, Zhuangyu Zhang, Liangkai Chen, Yuhan Tang, Ping Yao, Jingfan Xiong, Yanyan Li, Yanyan Li · 发表于：Nutrients · 年份：2023 · DOI：10.3390/nu15224821 · 被引用次数：18 · 研究领域：Child Nutrition and Water Access、Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet、Nutritional Studies and Diet

Background and aims: Childhood and adolescence are critical periods for linear growth and preventing stunting. Current evidence indicates that dietary protein intake in children and adolescents is often two to three times higher than the recommendations in many regions worldwide. However, few studies have focused on the association between high protein intake and linear growth and stunting in this population. We aim to investigate this association in children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years in a population with relatively high protein consumption. Methods: We conducted a large cross-sectional study involving 3299 participants from Shenzhen, a modern metropolis of China. Protein intake, including total protein, animal protein, and plant protein, was evaluated by a food-frequency questionnaire and expressed as grams per kilogram of body weight per day (g·kg−1·d−1) and as a percentage of total energy intake (%E). The primary outcomes were body height and height-for-age Z score (HAZ). Generalized linear models and logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the associations between protein intake and outcomes. We also conducted stratified analyses across different genders and pubertal stages in the aforementioned associations. Results: The mean protein intake was 1.81 g·kg−1·d−1 (17% E). After adjusting for serum calcium, zinc, vitamin D3, vitamin A levels, birth outcomes, lifestyle, and parental characteristics, each standard deviation increase of 1 in protein intak...