[Observational Study: Project Infant Nutrition - "Back to the Origin" during COVID-19 Pandemic]

There are few evidence-based data on the actual duration of breastfeeding, on the reasons for weaning, or on the development and growth of infants fed with infant formula. Evaluating this is an important aspect of the discussion of preventive measures.The aim of the current project was to observe new-borns/infants, who were fed with infant formula PRE or one of the "Zurück zum Ursprung" (Back to the Origin; Company Hofer KG, Sattledt, Austria) products after weaning, with regard to growth (length, weight), acceptance and any other abnormalities, and to evaluate the results. Furthermore, emerging nutrition-related questions that the mothers asked during counselling were documented.Seventeen new-borns/infants were observed over a period of 6 months, at seven consultations, approximately 4 weeks apart, and their length and weight were measured. The results were then evaluated using age-appropriate percentiles. In addition, acceptance was assessed and any abnormalities were documented. Questions on nutrition-related issues were discussed with the mothers based on evidence-based information.Except for one infant, who was already well above the 97th percentile at the start of the observation, all the other 16 infants showed a developmentally appropriate physiological course of length and weight. The formula milk was accepted by all infants without exception.The mothers' emerging questions and nutritional issues showed that practical tips based on evidence-based facts were preferred to so-called "general recommendations" from companies or the media. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the observation was continued on a smaller scale as a pilot study and produced interesting results. As a future perspective, long-term observation of the monitored babies would be interesting, in order to be able to gain important knowledge for preventive nutritional measures.