The vitamin status of infants in a free living population

In infancy an adequate intake of vitamins, either from natural sources or as supplements, is of the utmost importance. The vitamin status of 325 infants was studied with regard to their food intake, vitamin supplementation and health from birth to the third birthday. Only data on vitamins A, C, E and folic acid are presented here. The proportion of bottle-fed infants having a serum level of vitamin C less than 0.30 mg/dl was 4.0 times (P less than 0.002), and of vitamin E less than 0.35 mg/dl was 2.2 times (P less than 0.05) higher than that of breast-fed infants. The proportion of infants with folate level less than 6.0 ng/ml was identical in both groups. No infant was observed with a vitamin A serum level less than 40 mcg/dl. The daily food intake of vitamin C less than 80% of RNI was found n 40% of infants at 6 months, in 10% at 12, and in none at 18 months and afterwards. Vitamin A followed a similar trend. 95% of infants had vitamin E and 75% had folate intake less than 80% RNI. Obviously the mean serum levels of vitamins A and C were significantly higher in supplemented infants at 6, 12, 18 and 30 months than in those without supplements. Health indicators, measured by number of self-reported illness related symptoms, differed according to supplementation. These findings indicated that, even if optimal food intake could supply the recommended quantity of vitamins, the risk of marginal deficiency always remained higher in infants without supplementation.