Complementary feeding: inappropriate practices in infants

Abstracts

OBJETIVO: Avaliar as práticas e o consumo alimentar de lactentes saudáveis de três metrópoles do Brasil. MÉTODOS: Por meio de estudo prospectivo, analisaram-se registros alimentares de 7 dias consecutivos de amostra intencional, por cotas e ponderada, das cidades de Curitiba, São Paulo e Recife, de 179 lactentes saudáveis, entre 4 e 12 meses, que não se encontravam em aleitamento materno (AM) exclusivo. As mães receberam orientação verbal e escrita, por nutricionista, visando a uniformização da anotação do registro alimentar. Para o cálculo de ingestão, utilizou-se o Programa de Apoio à Nutrição (NutWin). RESULTADOS: A mediana de idade dos lactentes foi de 6,8 meses (4,0-12,6 meses). Observou-se que 50,3% já não recebiam AM. Destes, 12,0 e 6,7% dos menores e maiores de 6 meses, respectivamente, utilizavam fórmulas infantis em substituição ao leite materno. A maioria dos lactentes, portanto, recebia leite de vaca integral. A diluição da fórmula infantil foi correta em apenas 23,8 e 34,7% das crianças menores e maiores de 6 meses, respectivamente. Em relação à alimentação complementar, observou-se que a mediana de idade foi de 4 meses para sua introdução e de 5,5 meses para a alimentação da família. Verificou-se elevada inadequação quantitativa na ingestão de micronutrientes para lactentes de 6 a 12 meses que não recebiam AM, destacando-se as de zinco (75%) e ferro (45%). CONCLUSÃO: O presente estudo mostrou elevada frequência de práticas e consumo alimentar inadequados em lactentes muito jovens. É possível que essas práticas levem a aumento no risco de desenvolvimento futuro de doenças crônicas.

Comportamento alimentar; prevenção de doenças; transtornos da nutrição do lactente; cuidado do lactente

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Complementary feeding: inappropriate practices in infants

Michelle Cavalcante Caetano^I; Thaís Tobaruela Ortiz Ortiz^I; Simone Guerra Lopes da Silva^I; Fabíola Isabel Suano de Souza^II; Roseli Oselka Saccardo Sarni^III

^IMestranda, Ciências Aplicadas à Pediatria, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil

^IIMestre, Ciências Aplicadas à Pediatria, UNIFESP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, Professora colaboradora, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC (FMABC), Santo André, SP, Brazil

^IIIDoutora, Medicina, UNIFESP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, Professora assistente, FMABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess feeding practices and dietary intake of healthy infants in three Brazilian municipalities.

METHODS: By means of a prospective study, we analyzed the food record of 7 consecutive days of an intentional sample (quota and weighted sampling) of 179 healthy infants, aged between 4 and 12 months, from the municipalities of Curitiba, São Paulo, and Recife, who were not being exclusively breastfed. Mothers received oral and written information provided by a nutritionist with the purpose of standardizing the feeding data. The computer program NutWin was used to calculate the dietary intake.

RESULTS: The median of the infants' age was 6.8 months (4.0-12.6 months). We found that 50.3% of the infants were no longer being exclusively breastfed. Of these, 12.0 and 6.7% among the infants younger and older than 6 months, respectively, were fed with infant formulae instead of breast milk. Therefore, most infants received whole cow's milk. Infant formula dilution was correct in only 23.8 and 34.7% of the infants younger and older than 6 months old, respectively. With regards to complementary feeding, we found that the median age was 4 months for its introduction and 5.5 months for the introduction of family diet. There was high quantitative inappropriateness of micronutrient intake for infants between 6 and 12 months old who were not exclusively breastfed, mainly in terms of zinc (75%) and iron (45%).

CONCLUSION: The present study showed a high frequency of inappropriate feeding practices and dietary intake in very young infants. These practices may lead to an increased risk of development of chronic diseases in the future.

Keywords: Dietary behavior, disease prevention, infant's nutritional disorders, infant care.

Introduction

There is strong evidence in the literature, based on epidemiological studies, animal models and clinical trials, highlighting that the initial phases of life (intra-uterine period and first year of life) are sensitive to nutritional and metabolic factors that may determine short- and long-term effects on the individual's health and well-being until adulthood. The developmental origins of health and disease suggest that induction, deletion or harm in the development of a permanent somatic structure or adjustment of a physiologic system, by means of stimulation or aggression, which takes place during a susceptible period (early phases of life), would result in long-term consequences for the physiologic functions.¹

Exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months, with breastfeeding lasting up to 2 years or longer in combination with the introduction of balanced complementary feeding (CF) are emphasized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as important measures of public health with effective impact on the reduction in the risk of developing this type of disease.² Nevertheless, current data show that chronic diseases affect 30% of the Brazilian adult population.³ Several studies have emphasized that the recommendations on healthy feeding practices during the first year of life have not been totally incorporated yet, not only in Brazil, but also in other countries, in spite of the permanently updated guidelines aimed at health professionals who provide care to the pediatric age group.^4-6

The appropriate CF must include a balanced composition of foods containing an adequate amount of macro and micronutrients (with special attention to iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C and folic acid), contamination-free (biologic, chemical or physical) food, which can be easily digested and accepted, at reasonable cost and prepared using food usually consumed by the family.^4,7

Recent studies conducted by the Brazilian Ministry of Health have emphasized the high frequency of inadequate CF during the first year of life.³ Even though total breastfeeding duration has shown an increase by comparing the population surveys of 1996 and 2006, the median of exclusive breastfeeding is still very low (1.8 months).³ With regard to CF, it is important to highlight the early introduction of inappropriate food such as, for instance, whole cow's milk; inappropriate consistency and low density and bioavailability of micronutrients (diluted soups); low amount of fruits and vegetables; contamination during food preparation and storage; addition of simple carbohydrates to the feeding bottle; and offer of manufactured foods rich in simple carbohydrates, lipids, and salt, often consumed by the family.⁴

In Brazil, several studies have been published on the introduction of CF to children; however, it is worth mentioning that these studies were based on semi-structured questionnaires based on the interviewee's memory and related to the food consumed on the day previous to the interview, usually carried out during vaccination campaigns.^8-13 There are not any studies available regarding the dietary intake of infants using the7-day food diary as the instrument of data collection.

Therefore, the objective of the present study was to assess the feeding practices and dietary intake of infants between 4 and 12 months who lived in São Paulo, Curitiba, and Recife.

Methods

Our sample included a representative subsample of infants younger than 1 year old who were randomly selected from a consumption study conducted in 2005 involving 1,800 mothers of children between 4 and 36 months old, belonging to socioeconomic classes A, B, C, and D, from the municipalities of São Paulo, Recife, and Curitiba. This initial sample was a non-probabilistic, intentional (quota and weighted) sampling based on the data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, IBGE).

We analyzed the7-day food diary of 179 healthy infants from Curitiba, São Paulo, and Recife, Brazil, aged between 4 and 12 months, who were not being exclusively breastfed. By means of structured and pre-codified questionnaires, we collected sociodemographic data and information on feeding practices.

The mothers received oral and written information from trained nutritionists before they completed the7-day food diary with the purpose of standardizing data collection. In order to increase the accuracy of the data, the mothers were offered scales with capacity of 1 kg and graduation of 100 g, measuring jug with graduation of 10 mL and capacity for 50 mL, and set of measuring spoons for different types of food.

Data were recorded by the mothers in grams, mL, or home measures and they included: food offered and preparation mode, mentioning all ingredients used and the leftovers.

Next, the qualitative and quantitative analyses of food records were carried out by nutritionists, researchers, and the authors of the present study. For the quantitative analysis, we used the computer program NutWin of Universidade Federal de São Paulo. The 1989 Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)14 was used as the reference values, considering the intake of micronutrients and energy lower than 80% as inappropriate.

Due to the wide variation in the preparation of infant formulae or powder cow's milk (with regard to the dilution and addition of simple carbohydrates), each preparation was individually assessed.

All data were double entered (independent typewriters) and validated using the statistical package Epi Info 6.04 (validate duplicate entry). The statistical package SPSS 13.0 was used to build the tables of results, which, for the qualitative and dichotomic data, were presented by means of frequency tables (absolute number and percentage) and, for the continuous variables, were presented by means of measurement of central tendency (median) and dispersion (minimum and maximum values).

Results

The median of the infants' age was 6.8 months (4.0-12.6 months). Table 1 shows the sociodemographic characteristics and the related feeding practices of this population.

The mothers reported that the feeding practices used were predominantly based on their own and their family's life experience (67.6%). Pediatricians and the media ranked second and third place, respectively (data not provided).

Among the questionnaires evaluated, we found that 50.3% of the infants were no longer being exclusively breastfed. Of these, 12.0 and 6.7% among the infants younger and older than 6 months, respectively, were fed with infant formulae instead of breast milk. Therefore, most infants received whole cow's milk. The most frequent reasons mentioned by the mothers for the interruption of exclusive breastfeeding were: low milk production (17.7%) and child's refusal to be breastfed (8.4%) (data not provided).

The median age for introduction of feeding bottle was 3 months (0.0-10 months). We found a high percentage of inadequate preparation of infant formulae and milk bottles (Table 2). Infant formula dilution was adequate in only 23.8 and 34.7% of the infants younger and older than 6 months old, respectively (Table 2). We found a high frequency of addition of sugar, cereals, and chocolate powder in the preparation of feeding bottles, even for children younger than 6 months (Table 2).

With regards to CF, we found that the median age was 4 months for its introduction and 5.5 months for the introduction of the family diet (data not provided). The analysis of the frequency of the weekly intake demonstrated high percentage of consumption of manufactured foods, soft drinks, and artificial juices among the children assessed (Table 3).

Figure 1 shows high quantitative inappropriateness in the micronutrient intake for infants from 6 to 12 months who were no longer being breastfed. It is important to highlight the specific deficits of zinc (75%) and iron (45%).

Discussion

The present study warns about the evident nutritional risk of infants in the first year of life with potential short- and long-term implications considering: short duration of breastfeeding, use of whole cow's milk, early introduction of manufactured foods rich in lipids (including trans fat), sugar, and salt. Combined with the inappropriate consumption of macronutrients, the low intake of micronutrients is also a reason for concern, mainly related to the antioxidant defense, which may potentiate the risk of developing diseases such as cardiovascular disorders.

Li et al., in a recent study involving US mothers, suggested several reasons for the early interruption of breastfeeding, highlighting the mothers' low educational level and young age, short maternity leave, use of feeding bottles in neonatal intensive care units, and families' desire of offering manufactured foods rich in fat, simple carbohydrates, and salt, often consumed by parents.¹⁵

In our study, we found that the most frequent reasons reported by the mothers for early interruption of breastfeeding (little production of milk and child's refusal to be breastfed) are in agreement with data published by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. We also did not find association between the interruption of breastfeeding and mother's educational level.³

Siqueira & Monteiro found a two-fold higher risk of obesity in children who had never been breastfed when compared to other children's risk. They did not find dose-response effect in the association between duration of breastfeeding and obesity at schoolage.¹⁶

A surprising result was the high percentage of children in the first year of life who consumed whole cow's milk, with or without addition of simple carbohydrates, instead of breast milk. The use of whole cow's milk is an independent risk factor for the development of iron deficiency anemia; for each month of use of cow's milk there is a reduction of 0.2 g/dL in the hemoglobin levels.¹⁷ It is also worth highlighting that iron deficit and iron deficiency anemia cause severe sequelae in children's cognitive and emotional development, impairing their development during adulthood.^18,19 Another important aspect is related to the excessive consumption of proteins associated with the early use of cow's milk in the first year of life and the development of chronic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Larnkjaer et al., comparing the intake of infants from 9 to 12 months who consumed infant formula and whole cow's milk, emphasized the risk of the excessive consumption of proteins associated with the early use of whole cow's milk with consequences in the IgF1 levels.²⁰

A cohort study recently published by Koletzko et al., comparing the body mass index (BMI) at 2 years old of children receiving infant formulae with higher or lower protein content in the first year of life within the limits recommended by the Codex Alimentarius, reported significantly higher values of BMI in the group who received infant formulae containing higher protein content when compared to those children who were still being breastfed and those who received infant formulae containing lower amounts of protein.²¹ The suggested mechanism was the increase in the adipogenesis and resistance to insulin associated with increase in the circulating levels of IgF1 in children whose protein intake was higher.²²

With regard to those children fed with infant formulae, there was high percentage of dilution error. A study conducted by Labiner-Wolfe et al. highlighted that the incorrect dilution of infant formulae was often found, increasing the risk of diarrhea, dehydration, as well as inappropriate offer of energy and protein.²³

Healthy and diversified CF is an opportunity for the child to be exposed to a wide variety of foods that will serve as the basis for healthy dietary habits in the future. The definition of the feeding preferences based on the feeding practices during the first years of life has been broadly approached in the literature.^24,25 It is important to highlight that the breast milk contains several smells/flavors directly related to the foods, spices, and liquids consumed and inhaled by the mother. Breastfeeding exposes the infant to a wide sensorial experience, making it easier the full acceptance of a balanced CF.²⁵

With regard to the quantitative analysis, we found several inappropriate aspects. The inadequate intake of iron, zinc, and vitamin A, previously described in other Brazilian studies, is surprising.³ Recently, the National Survey on Demography and Health of Children and Women (Pesquisa Nacional de Demografia e Saúde da Criança e da Mulher, PNDS) provided results regarding biomarkers and reported that there was anemia and vitamin A deficit in 20.5 and 17.4%, respectively, of the children younger than 5 years old, which once again corroborates the need of nutritional education interventions in the scope of public health.26 It is important to emphasize that approximately 70% of the iron and zinc needs of infants after 6 months of life must be supplied by complementary feeding.

In our sample, we found that children started to be fed very early with inappropriate foods such as manufactured sweets, sandwich cookies, instant noodles, frozen convenience foods, soft drinks, and artificial juices. Recently published population-based studies, assessing the dietary intake of US and European infants (Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, and Belgium), evidenced early introduction of CF (before 4 months of life) and frequent use of inappropriate foods for this age group, such as foods with high fat and sugar content.^4,5

There are some limitations in the present study: need to estimate the addition of oil and sugar, lack of children's anthropometric data, and cross-sectional study design that makes it only possible to find associations between the events studied, not allowing to demonstrate a cause-effect relationship between such events.

Conclusion

The present study showed a high frequency of inappropriate feeding practices and dietary intake in very young infants. These practices may lead to increased risk of development of chronic diseases in the future.

References

• 1. Silveira PP, Portella AK, Goldani MZ, Barbieri MA. Developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD). J Pediatr (Rio J). 2007;83:494-504.
• 2. Michaelsen KF. Breastfeeding. In: Koletzko B. Pediatric Nutrition in Practice. Switzerland: Karger. 2008. 85-89 p.
• ³
  Brasil, Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Atenção à Saúde. Departamento de Atenção Básica. Saúde da criança: nutrição infantil: aleitamento materno e alimentação complementar. Brasília; 2009. 112p.
• 4. ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition, Agostoni C, Braegger C, Decsi T, Kolacek S, Koletzko B, et al. Breast-feeding: A commentary by the ESPGHAN committee on nutrition. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2009;49:112-25.
• 5. American Academy of Pediatrics. Complementary feeding. In: Kleiman RE, Ed.Pediatric Nutrition Handbook. 6.ed. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2009. p.113-42.
• ⁶
  Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria. Manual de Orientação para a alimentação do lactente, do pré-escolar, do escolar, do adolescente e na escola. Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria. Departamento de Nutrologia. 2.ed. São Paulo: SBP; 2008. 120p.
• ⁷
  WHO/UNICEF. Complementary feeding of young children in developing countries: a review of current cientific knowledge. Geneva: World Heath Organization; 1998.
• 8. Modesto SP, Devincenzi MU, Sigulem DM. Práticas alimentares e estado nutricional de crianças no segundo semestre de vida atendidas na rede pública de saúde. Rev Nutr. 2007;20:405-15.
• 9. Garcia de Lima Parada CM, de Barros Leite Carvalhaes MA, Jamas MT. Complementary feeding practices to children during their first year of life. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. 2007;15:282-9.
• 10. Brunken GS, Silva SM, França GV, Escuder MM, Venâncio SI. Risk factors for early interruption of exclusive breastfeeding and late introduction of complementary foods among infants in midwestern Brazil. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2006;82:445-51.
• 11. Santos CS, Lima LS, Javorski M. Fatores que interferem na transição alimentar de crianças entre cinco e oito meses: investigação em Serviço de Puericultura do Recife, Brasil. Rev Bras Saude Mater Infant. 2007;7:373-80.
• 12. Simon VG, Souza JM, Souza SB. Aleitamento materno, alimentação complementar, sobrepeso e obesidade em pré-escolares. Rev Saude Publica. 2009;43:60-9.
• 13. Vieira GO, Silva LR, Vieira Tde O, Almeida JA, Cabral VA. Hábitos alimentares de crianças menores de 1 ano amamentadas e não-amamentadas. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2004;80:411-6.
• 14. Monsen ER. The 10th edition of the Recommended Dietary Allowances: what's new in the 1989 RDAs? J Am Diet Assoc. 1989;89:1748-52.
• 15. Li R, Fein SB, Chen J, Grummer-Strawn LM. Why mothers stop breastfeeding: mothers self-reported reasons for stopping during the first year. Pediatrics. 2008;122 Suppl 2:S69-76.
• 16. Scanferla de Siqueira R, Monteiro CA. Amamentação na infância e obesidade na idade escolar em famílias de alto nível socioeconômico. Rev Saude Publica. 2007;41:5-12.
• 17. Moy RJ. Prevalence, consequences and prevention of childhood nutritional iron deficiency: a child public health perspective. Clin Lab Haematol. 2006;28:291-8
• 18. Lozoff B, Jimenez E, Smith JB. Double burden of iron deficiency in infancy and low socioeconomic status: a longitudinal analysis of cognitive test scores to age 19 years. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2006;160:1108-13.
• 19. Lozoff B, Clark KM, Jing Y, Armony-Sivan R, Angelilli ML, Jacobson SW. Dose-response relationships between iron deficiency with or without anemia and infant social-emotional behavior. J Pediatr. 2008;152:696-702.
• 20. Larnkjaer A, Hoppe C, Molgaard C, Michaelsen KF. The effects of whole milk and infant formula on growth and IGF-I in late infancy. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2009;63:956-63.
• 21. Koletzko B, von Kries R, Closa R, Escribano J, Scaglioni S, Giovannini M, et al. Lower protein in infant formula is associated with lower weight up to age 2 y: a randomized clinical trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009;89:1836-45.
• 22. Koletzko B, von Kries R, Monasterolo RC, Subías JE, Scaglioni S, Giovannini M, et al. European Childhood Obesity Trial Study Group Infant feeding and later obesity risk. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2009;646:15-29.
• 23. Labiner-Wolfe J, Fein SB, Shealy KR. Infant formula-handling education and safety. Pediatrics. 2008;122 Suppl 2:S85-90.
• 24. Menella JA, Griffin CE, Beauchamp GK. Flavor Programming during infancy. Pediatrics. 2004; 113:840-5.
• 25. Beauchamp GK, Mennella JA. Early flavor learning and its impact on later feeding behavior. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2009;48 Suppl 1:S25-30.
• ²⁶
  Ministério da Saúde. Pesquisa Nacional de Demografia e Saúde da Criança e da Mulher (PNDS – 2006). Resultados sobre anemia e hipovitaminose A. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde; 2009.

Correspondence

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  08 July 2010
• Date of issue
  June 2010

History

• Accepted
  27 Jan 2010
• Received
  02 Dec 2009