[Infant nutrition in Norway in the light of recent research]

Broadly speaking, infant nutrition in Norway is good during the first six months. Fortunately breast feeding is very common. In the second half of the first year, however, our infant nutrition is not quite in accord with recent research. The iron intake is less than recommended, and in many infants the iron status at one year of age is not satisfactory, although serious degrees of iron deficiency anemia are rare. Many infants are given cow's milk from six months of age, and thus receive more protein and electrolytes than desirable. This represents an unnecessary load on metabolism, fluid balance and kidneys, with too high "potential renal solute load". Insulin secretion is stimulated to a higher degree than with breast milk, and there is also some blood loss in the stools. The author emphasizes the importance of essential unsaturated fatty acids, particularly the fatty acids in marine oils (cod liver oil), and proposes a simple and inexpensive adjustment of Norwegian infant nutrition.