Nutrient intake in the United States during the first 12 months of life

Nutrient intakes of 463 infants ranging in age from 1 week to 12 months from the Nationwide Food Consumption Survey 1977-78 were evaluated according to different foods (milk and milk products, noniron-fortified formula, iron-fortified formula, infant cereal, commercial baby foods, and table foods). Breast-fed infants and infants fed a combination of cow's milk and formula were excluded. Results indicated that iron was the nutrient most often consumed in amounts less than the RDA. Infants fed a diet that included either cow's milk or noniron-fortified formula had a median iron intake less than the recommended allowance. In comparison, infants who were fed an iron-fortified formula had a median iron intake well above the RDA. The relative proportion of iron derived from different foods is discussed.