(P18-011-23) Dietary Pulse Consumption During Childhood Is Associated With Improved Nutrient Outcomes in the First Two Years of Life

Objectives: Bean consumption during childhood may play a role in promoting early-life health given their high nutrient quality including protein and fiber. We aimed to examine the association between child bean consumption, diet quality, and nutrient outcomes in early childhood.

Methods: We analyzed data from the WIC Infant and Toddler Feeding Practices Study-2 that followed children and their mothers at 1m, 3m, 5m, 7m, 9m, 11m, 13m, 15m, 18m, and 24m. Mothers reported the child’s consumption of dried beans, chili, yellow beans, and lima beans at each age point, using 24-hour dietary recall. Outcome measures included energy intake, macronutrients (e.g., protein, fat, carbohydrate, fiber), and micronutrients (e.g., magnesium, vitamin D, potassium, iron, folate) in early childhood. To ensure statistical power, we only examined the associations of dried beans and chili with socio-demographics (chi-square tests) and nutrient outcomes (ANOVA) at 11m and 24m.

Results: The proportion of children who consumed dried beans or chili was very low in the first 6m of age, started to increase at 7 m (1.2% and 0.4%) and reached a high level at 18 m (10.5%) and 24 m (5.9%), respectively. Consumption of yellow or lima beans was rare ( < 0.1%).  At 11 and 24 months, dried bean consumption was higher in children who were White (vs Black), and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity (vs non-Hispanic or Latino ethnicity). Similarly, the consumption of chili was higher among children who were Hispanic or Latino at 11 and 24 months. Children who consumed dried beans at 11 months had a higher intake of total energy, protein, total fiber, potassium, folate, and magnesium, compared with non-consumers. Similarly, children who consumed dried beans at 24 months had a higher intake of protein, total dietary fiber, potassium, and folate. Children who consumed chili at 11 months had a higher intake of total energy, protein, carbohydrates, total fiber, fat, potassium, folate, and magnesium, compared with non-consumers. Children who consumed chili at 24 months had a higher intake of dietary fiber, and a higher percentage of energy from carbohydrates, potassium, and magnesium.

Conclusions: The consumption of dried beans and chili differed by race and ethnicity and was associated with improved macro and micronutrient intake in early childhood.

Funding Sources: The U.S. Department of Agriculture