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Infants were introduced to complementary feeding earlier in 2018 compared with 2003
Frida Strömberg Celind1,2, Emma Goksör1, Elisabeth Carlén1
1Department of Paediatrics, University of Gothenburg, Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Insights
Infants born in 2018 received complementary foods like eggs, fish, and gluten earlier than those born in 2003. This aligns with current guidelines and may lower allergy risks.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Allergy Prevention
- Public Health Recommendations
Background:
- Swedish food allergy prevention guidelines shifted towards earlier introduction of complementary foods after 2001.
- Previous advice recommended delaying introduction of eggs, fish, and peanuts until age one to mitigate allergy risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess adherence to current Swedish recommendations for complementary feeding.
- To investigate changes in the timing of introducing allergenic foods between 2003 and 2018.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of two prospective, longitudinal, population-based cohort studies of children born in 2003 and 2018.
- Parents completed comparable questionnaires at 6 and 12 months of age regarding infant feeding practices.
Main Results:
- In 2018, significant proportions of infants received eggs (67.2%), fish (78.9%), gluten (89.1%), and cow's milk (76.6%) by 6 months.
- Introduction of gluten, fish, and eggs was significantly earlier in the 2018 cohort compared to the 2003 cohort (p < 0.01), even after adjusting for hereditary factors, parental education, and child's allergic history.
Conclusions:
- Complementary feeding of eggs, fish, and gluten occurred earlier in infants born in 2018 versus 2003.
- This trend suggests potential reduction in allergic disease risk and indicates adherence to current public health guidelines for infant feeding.
Aim:
Until 2001, the Swedish advice was to postpone the introduction of eggs, fish and peanuts until the age of 1 year. One reason was to reduce the risk of food allergy. The earlier introduction of complementary feeding is now advised. Our aim was to study adherence to current recommendations and whether the time of introduction changed between 2003 and 2018.
Methods:
Data were obtained from two prospective, longitudinal, population-based cohort studies of children born in 2003 (n = 4987) and in 2018 (n = 3936). Parents answered comparable questionnaires when the children were 6 and 12 months old.
Results:
At 6 months, in the 2018 cohort, eggs were introduced to 67.2% of the infants, fish to 78.9%, gluten to 89.1%, cow's milk to 76.6% and peanuts to 46.2%. In adjusted Cox regression analyses, introduction of complementary feeding with gluten, fish and eggs was made significantly earlier in the 2018 cohort compared with the 2003 cohort, adjusted for heredity, own allergic disease and parental educational level (p < 0.01).
Conclusion:
Complementary feeding with eggs, fish and gluten was introduced earlier in infants born in 2018 compared with 2003, possibly reducing the risk of developing allergic disease. Current recommendations from child welfare centres are being followed.
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