TITLE:
The effects of increased dietary fiber intake on the self-reported quality of life of school-age children
AUTHORS:
Mary Brauchla, Katherine Reidenbach, Selena Baker, Sean McCabe, Sibylle Kranz
KEYWORDS:
Quality of Life; Children; Fiber Intake; School Snacks
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.6 No.1,
January
26,
2014
ABSTRACT: The aim of this community-based, randomized-controlled prospective nutrition intervention study was to assess the impact of serving high-fiber snacks twice a day to a
sample of school-age children on their dietary fiber intake and health-related
quality of life (HRQOL) scores. Participants (n = 81) were children aged 7-11
years. Children were randomized to receive two high-fiber snacks per day for
eight weeks (intervention) or to continue eating their regular snacks (control). At baseline and post-intervention, usual dietary intake data were collected via repeated 24-hour dietary recalls and HRQOL was assessed using the PedsQL?
Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Statistical analysis to assess significant
changes in dietary intake as well as self-reported quality of life was
conducted using two-sided student’s t-tests; significance level was set at p to elementary-school
children can effectively increase dietary fiber consumption and may lead
to an improved physical quality of life. Further research is needed regarding
the impact of nutrition on health-related quality of life.