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Complementary feeding and developmental milestones: a systematic review
Laural K English1, Julie E Obbagy2, Yat Ping Wong2
1Panum Group, Bethesda, MD.
Insights
This study found insufficient evidence linking complementary feeding practices to infant developmental milestones. More research is needed to understand the relationship between infant nutrition and development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Evidence Synthesis
Background:
- Systematic reviews were part of a large project examining complementary feeding and child development.
- Previous research explored the connection between infant nutrition and developmental milestones.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe systematic reviews on complementary food and beverage (CFB) introduction timing, types, and amounts.
- To assess the relationship between CFB consumption and developmental milestones in children up to 24 months.
Main Methods:
- Searched four databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, CINAHL) for relevant studies.
- Conducted data extraction and risk of bias assessment for included systematic reviews.
- Qualitatively synthesized evidence and graded the strength of evidence.
Main Results:
- Three studies examined CFB introduction timing; eight examined CFB types and amounts.
- Insufficient evidence was found to conclude on the relationship between CFB timing or type/amount and developmental milestones.
Conclusions:
- Limited evidence and methodological issues (e.g., reverse causality, study design variation) restrict conclusions.
- Further research is recommended to address evidence gaps in complementary feeding and child development.
Background:
Systematic reviews were conducted as part of the USDA and the US Department of Health and Human Services Pregnancy and Birth to 24 Months Project to examine the relation between complementary feeding and developmental milestones.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to describe systematic reviews examining the relationship between timing of introduction of complementary foods and beverages (CFB), and the types and amounts of CFB consumed, and developmental milestones.
Methods:
The literature was searched using 4 databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and CINAHL) to identify articles that met predetermined criteria for inclusion. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment were conducted for each included study. The body of evidence for each systematic review was qualitatively synthesized to develop a conclusion statement, and the strength of evidence was graded.
Results:
Three included articles (1 randomized controlled trial; 2 observational studies) examined timing of introduction of CFB. Eight included articles (3 randomized controlled trials; 5 observational studies) examined types and amounts of CFB. There was insufficient evidence to draw conclusions about the relation between either timing of CFB introduction or types and amounts of CFB, and developmental milestones.
Conclusions:
The ability to draw conclusions about the relationship between complementary feeding and developmental milestones was restricted by an inadequate amount of evidence with potential for issues with reverse causality and wide variation in design, type/age of outcome assessment, exposure assessment, and reported results. Additional research to address these gaps and limitations would be useful.
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