Related Experiment Videos
Diets of healthy Swedish children 4-24 months old. III. Nutrient intake
Insights
Infant nutrient intake generally meets or exceeds recommendations, with notable exceptions for vitamin D, iron, and zinc. Formula-fed infants show higher nutrient intake than breastfed infants at 4 months.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Infant Development
- Dietary Assessment
Background:
- Understanding infant nutrition is crucial for healthy growth and development.
- Dietary habits established in infancy can influence long-term health outcomes.
- Variations in nutrient intake between breastfed and formula-fed infants require investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the nutrient intake of infants at different developmental stages (4, 9, 15, and 24 months).
- To compare nutrient intake between formula-fed and breastfed infants at 4 months.
- To evaluate nutrient intake adequacy relative to Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) across different ages.
Main Methods:
- Semi-longitudinal study design involving 81 infants.
- Food intake recorded over 3 days at 4 months and 7 days at 9, 15, and 24 months.
- Nutrient intake analyzed and compared against RDA.
Main Results:
- Formula-fed 4-month-olds had higher nutrient intake than breastfed infants (excluding fat and retinol).
- Nutrient intake was generally high compared to RDA in older infants, with exceptionally high protein intake.
- Median intakes below RDA were observed for vitamin D, iron, and zinc.
Conclusions:
- Infant nutrient intake generally meets or exceeds recommendations, with specific deficiencies in vitamin D, iron, and zinc.
- A dietary transition from infant to adult food habits occurs between 9 and 24 months.
- Formula feeding is associated with higher nutrient intake in early infancy compared to breastfeeding.
Abstract:
In a semi-longitudinal investigation comprising a total of 81 infants studied at one or more of the ages 4, 9, 15 and 24 months, the food intake was recorded on three consecutive days at 4 months and on seven consecutive days at 9, 15 and 24 months (40, 40, 38 and 40 infants, respectively in the four age groups). The formula-fed 4-month-old infants had a markedly higher intake of all nutrients, except fat and retinol, than the breast-fed ones. In the three oldest age groups the nutrient intake was high as compared with RDA. The protein intake was exceptionally high. Median intakes that were definitely lower than RDA were noted only for vitamin D, iron and zinc. The nutrient density changed from the age of 9 to 24 months, indicating a transition during that period from infant to adult food habits.