Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 17, 2026
Author Spotlight: Implications of Non-Nutritive Sucking on Speech Emergence and Infant Development
Published on: April 19, 2024
Infant Formula and Dietary Supplement Use Among Infants and Toddlers, Aged 0 to 23 Months, NHANES, 2019 to March 2020
Edwina A Wambogo1, Suruchi Mishra, Nicholas Ansai2
1Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), at the NIH.
Insights
Nearly half of infants and toddlers used infant formula (IF) in 2019-2020, with most users being younger infants. Many IF products contained key nutrients and bioactives like docosahexaenoic acid, but concurrent use of dietary supplements was also noted.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Public Health
Background:
- Infant formula (IF) is a critical nutrient source for infants and toddlers lacking adequate maternal nutrition.
- Monitoring IF use, composition, and nutrient contribution is essential for this vulnerable population.
- Understanding IF consumption patterns informs public health strategies and nutritional guidance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of IF use among US infants and toddlers (0-23 months).
- To analyze the nutrient content and presence of bioactives in commonly used IF products.
- To determine the co-consumption of IF with dietary supplements (DSs) in this age group.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 389 infants and toddlers from the 2019-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
- Estimation of IF usage rates, nutrient content per 100 kcal, and prevalence of specific bioactives (DHA, probiotics, prebiotics).
- Assessment of frequently used IF brands and the concurrent use of IF with DSs.
Main Results:
- 45.7% of infants and toddlers consumed IF in the past 14 days, primarily those aged 0-11 months.
- Most IFs met US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nutrient standards; 68% of infant IF users consumed products with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
- 13.1% of IF users also consumed DSs, with higher rates in younger infants (0-5 months).
Conclusions:
- Infant formula is widely used by young children, with significant consumption of products containing DHA and other bioactives.
- Concurrent use of IF and DSs highlights the need for comprehensive dietary assessments.
- Further research is needed to fully understand nutrient and bioactive intakes from IF and DSs in infants and toddlers.
Abstract:
Infant formula (IF) is crucial for meeting the nutrient needs of some infants and toddlers, underscoring the need for continued monitoring of their use, composition, and contribution to nutrient intakes in this group. The objectives were to estimate among infants and toddlers aged 0 to 23 months: (1) percentage using IF, (2) mean IF nutrient content per 100 kcal, (3) percentage using IF with selected bioactives, (4) percentage using frequently reported product brands, and (5) percentage consuming both IF and dietary supplements (DSs). Data from a sample of infants and toddlers aged 0 to 23 months (n = 389) from the 2019 to March 2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. Nearly half (45.7%) of infants and toddlers consumed IF within the past 14 days. Most IF users were infants aged 0 to 11 months: 47.7% were 0 to 5 months, 42.1% were 6 to 11 months, and about 10% were toddlers 12 to 23 months. On average, the reported IFs contained the US Food and Drug Administration-specified required nutrients in quantities within the US Food and Drug Administration standards. Some IF users (8.5%) used more than one IF product within the 2-week period. About 68% of infants and 10% of toddlers consumed an IF with docosahexaenoic acid. Additionally, 7% and 19% of infants consumed a product with probiotics or prebiotics, respectively; less than 5% used a product with both. Enfamil® RT products were used by 40.9% of IF users, Similac® RT by 38.6%, and Gerber® RT by 9.1%. Overall, 20.6% of infants and toddlers used DSs. Among IF users, 13.1% also used DSs: 16.7% aged 0 to 5 months, 10.8% aged 6 to 11 months, and 5.6% aged 12 to 23 months. Among infant IF users, the majority used products with docosahexaenoic acid, smaller percentages used products with probiotics/prebiotics, and more than one-tenth used DSs. Comprehensive dietary assessments for this age group are needed to capture accurate nutrient and bioactive intakes.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
01:15Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding
Nasointestinal Feeding
Nasointestinal feeding involves placing a tube...
01:17Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution
01:27Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
01:26Enteral Nutrition I: Orogastric and Nasogastric Feeding
Orogastric (OG) and nasogastric (NG) feeding are two standard methods used for enteral nutrition. Enteral nutrition is often preferred over...