Prolonged consumption of potato-based diets by infants and small children

A previous short-term study demonstrated that infants and children could consume diets in which 75% of energy and all protein was provided by the white potato. Nitrogen balance was inferior to casein control at this level or protein intake. Potato intake was limited by the bulk of the diets and the poor digestibility of carbohydrates. In the present study 10 children were offered diets containing 50%, 75% and 84.2% of total energy as potato (Solanum Tuberosum ssp. andigena) during a period of 3 months. Casein was added to the 50 and 75% diets to complete 8% of energy as protein (N X 6.25). Acceptability, tolerance, digestibility and growth of the children were analyzed. The 84.2% potato studies were aborted shortly after the beginning because of the excessively large volume. Acceptability and tolerance to the 50% potato diets were excellent but with the 75% potato diets were noted to decrease during the last days of the studies. Six of the eight children who completed the studies showed satisfactory weight gain and catch-up growth while maintaining normal serum albumin concentrations. In one other, weight gain was adequate but did not achieve catch-up growth, and in the youngest child weight gain and linear growth were inadequate. Metabolic balances did not show improvement or deterioration of digestibility throughout the study. Infants can consume up to 50-75% of energy and as much as 80% of their nitrogen requirements as potato if the remaining energy and nitrogen is provided by a non-bulky, easily digestible food.