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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Nutr.
Sec. Nutritional Epidemiology
Volume 11 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1434952
This article is part of the Research Topic Optimizing Hydration: Advances in Understanding, Assessment, and Promotion View all 5 articles

Contribution of direct-drinking water to calcium and magnesium and the influence on the height in school-age children

Provisionally accepted
Hongru Gu Hongru Gu Yijing Gong Yijing Gong *Zhao Li Zhao Li *Yanqiu Zhang Yanqiu Zhang *Jin Wu Jin Wu *Yi Wang Yi Wang *Min Ni Min Ni *Jun Zhang Jun Zhang *Hai Jiang Hai Jiang *
  • Taicang Disease Prevention and Control Center, Taicang, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Objective: To estimate the contribution of direct-drinking water provided in school to dietary intake (DI) and recommended nutrient intake (RNI) of calcium and magnesium, and to explore its influence on the height in school-age children.Tap water and direct-drinking water samples were collected from schools in Taicang City to test the contents of calcium and magnesium, and compared by one-way ANOVA and post-hoc test.Contribution rates of direct-drinking water to DI and RNI were calculated by using the contents of calcium and magnesium and data from the Nutrition and Health Status Survey 2021. A retrospective cohort was conducted among 4850 first-grade children consuming direct drinking water in Taicang City from 24 primary schools in 2019. Group 1 (1,070 boys and 946 girls) consumed UF-process water with normal calcium and magnesium contents and Group 2 (1,548 boys and 1,286 girls) consumed NF/RO-process water with very low calcium and magnesium contents. During 2019-2023, the height and height growth were analyzed with the Student's t-test.The highest calcium content was examined in tap water samples, followed by directdrinking water samples supplied through a UF, NF and RO system (F=1,227.725, P<0.001). The highest magnesium content was examined in water supplied through a UF system, followed by that through a tap, NF and RO system (F=146.504, P<0.001). Calcium and magnesium contents in directdrinking water supplied through a UF system changed little compared with those in tap water, which were significantly reduced in direct-drinking water supplied through a NF and RO system. The contribution rates of direct-drinking water to DI of calcium and magnesium were 8.95% and 2.78%, respectively, and those to RNI of calcium and magnesium were 2.63% and 1.96%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the height and height growth of first-grade children drinking water supplied through the UF system versus NF/RO system (P>0.05).Direct-drinking water processed through a NF or RO system should be cautiously adopted in primary and secondary schools. A UF system is preferred in schools where no health concerns are associated with water quality.

    Keywords: direct-drinking water in school, Children, Calcium, Magnesium, Contribution rate, height

    Received: 19 May 2024; Accepted: 03 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Gu, Gong, Li, Zhang, Wu, Wang, Ni, Zhang and Jiang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Yijing Gong, Taicang Disease Prevention and Control Center, Taicang, China
    Zhao Li, Taicang Disease Prevention and Control Center, Taicang, China
    Yanqiu Zhang, Taicang Disease Prevention and Control Center, Taicang, China
    Jin Wu, Taicang Disease Prevention and Control Center, Taicang, China
    Yi Wang, Taicang Disease Prevention and Control Center, Taicang, China
    Min Ni, Taicang Disease Prevention and Control Center, Taicang, China
    Jun Zhang, Taicang Disease Prevention and Control Center, Taicang, China
    Hai Jiang, Taicang Disease Prevention and Control Center, Taicang, China

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