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[Effects of the timing of complementary food on infant physical development]

Pin Li1, Ai Zhao2, Jian Zhang1

  • 1Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.

Wei Sheng Yan Jiu = Journal of Hygiene Research
|February 7, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Introducing complementary foods too early or too late may impact infant growth. Most infants receive timely food introduction between 4-6 months, but deviations can affect body mass index for age Z scores.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infant Nutrition
  • Developmental Science

Context:

  • Optimal infant development hinges on appropriate nutrition.
  • The introduction of complementary foods is a critical developmental milestone.
  • Current guidelines recommend introducing solids around six months of age.

Purpose:

  • To investigate the impact of complementary food introduction timing on infant development.
  • To analyze the relationship between the timing of supplementary food and infant growth indicators.
  • To compare the body mass index for age Z scores (BAZ) of infants receiving timely versus untimely complementary feeding.

Summary:

  • A study followed 168 breastfed infants from birth to 8 months.
  • Infants were categorized based on the timing of their first complementary food (reasonable vs. unreasonable).
  • Unreasonable timing (too early or too late) was associated with significant differences in BAZ, particularly higher BAZ at 6 months.

Impact:

  • Early or delayed complementary feeding may negatively affect infant growth trajectories.
  • Findings suggest a short-term impact of feeding timing on infant body mass index for age Z scores.
  • Highlights the importance of adhering to recommended complementary feeding schedules for healthy infant development.
Abstract

Keywords:
cohort studycomplementary foodgrowthinfant

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