Association of Infant Feeding Practices with Iron Status and Hematologic Parameters in 6-Month-Old Infants

Background: Infants’ feeding practices in the first 6 months of life and their association with iron status and hematologic parameters has not been well studied. We aim to evaluate this association. Methods: In a retrospective chart review, we identified 403 infants who received laboratory screening for anemia at 6-month visits. Infants were categorized into four groups according to feeding practices. Hematologic parameters and incidence of anemia, iron deficiency (ID), and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) were compared. Results: In total, 105 infants were breastfed (BF), 78 were breastfed with iron supplementation starting at 4 months (BI), 109 were mixed-fed (breast milk and formula) with or without iron supplementation (MF), and 111 were formula-fed (FF). The BF group had the highest incidence of anemia (38.1%), ID (28.6%), and IDA (17.1%) when compared with the other groups (p < 0.001). In multivariate logistic regression, BI, MF, and FF infants had 90.4%, 97.5%, and 96.9% decreased risk of IDA, respectively, with BF infants as a reference group. Conclusion: The incidence of anemia, ID, and IDA at age 6 months was higher in BF than FF or MF infants. However, iron supplements in BF infants starting at 4 months significantly reduced their ID and IDA incidence.

Surveying the relation between the means of infant feeding and motor development in Hungary

PurposeUnderstanding the role of nutrition in the development of children’s physical, mental, and motor abilities.Materials/methodsExamination of visiting nurse reports on feeding habits and perceived developmental delays in infants at 1 year of age between 2010 and 2015.ResultsBetween 0 and 6 months of age the lowest number of new cases (4.4/100,000) identified by health screenings can be anticipated among the infants feeding exclusively with breastmilk. We find a similarly low number of identifiable new cases among infants nourished with breastmilk where it is mixed with other nutrients (4.7 new cases) while the most cases of delayed motor development can be anticipated among infants nourished with infant formulae (48.4 new cases).ConclusionsThe role of nutrition in infants’ motor development is vital, especially breastfeeding. Regular health status checks of infants are inevitably required for the adoption of higher-level health-policy decisions which may induce projects, programmes, and strategies aimed at the improvement of health. Thorough documentation and continuous collection of the pertinent data is likewise requisite.

Degree of Agreement Between Infant Serum and Salivary Concentration of Leptin and Adiponectin and Its Association With Infants’ Feeding

Background: Leptin and adiponectin, two adipokines involved in glucose and lipid metabolism, have been linked to regulation of growth in early infancy, energy balance, and metabolic disorders in childhood. The aim of this study was to determine if concentrations of leptin and adiponectin could be measured reliably in infants’ saliva, to evaluate the degree of agreement with infant serum levels, and to explore their association with infant feeding status. Methods: A total of 34 infants were recruited after birth and followed for 20 weeks. After log-transformation of the values, a Bland-Altman graphical approach was used to summarize the direction of the difference between the serum and saliva values. Repeated measures mixed modeling was used to evaluate differences over time in these outcomes by feeding status. Results: Mean concentration of salivary leptin and adiponectin in infants was 3.7 ( SD = .8) ng/mL and 2.9 ( SD = 0.7) ng/mL, respectively. The degree of agreement between serum and saliva for log-transformed leptin and adiponectin values were relatively robust, albeit with a non-zero bias between the two methods, given that serum values were greater than corresponding saliva values for both adipokines in all infants. Each of the four repeated measures mixed models (one for each adipokine measure) had a significant main effect; however, the interaction between time and feeding status was not significant in any of the models. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that leptin and adiponectin can be measured in infant saliva, but in some cases leptin concentrations may be more difficult to detect.

Parent and Provider Perspectives on the Imprecise Label of “Human Milk Fortifier” in the NICU

In the critical care of preterm infants, feeding is complex and potentially harmful to an immature gastrointestinal system. Parents have expressed the desire to be fully informed about what is being fed to their child, as this places them in the best position to nurture their child’s health. In the parent-engaged setting of the Necrotizing Enterocolitis Symposium, NICU parents expressed concern and confusion about how cow’s milk product and donor human milk product both carry the label “Human Milk Fortifier” (HMF). Accordingly, two online surveys were developed to characterize how the label HMF is used and interpreted in the NICU by parents and providers. Of 774 United States participants, only 21.9% of providers reported consistently describing the source of HMF to parents, and only 20.6% of parents whose child received an HMF product report knowing the source. Parents expressed that they were “not given information” regarding HMF, while both parents and healthcare providers expressed that “the label (HMF) is misleading”. This study documents the ambiguity around the label HMF as well as the need for more specific language and clearer communication.

Metode pemberian ASI eksklusif memengaruhi status gizi

Exclusive feeding methods and their effect on nutritional statusBackground: Exclusive feeding could be given by human milk expression or direct breastfeeding methods. Recent studies indicate expressed human milk given by bottle in early infancy could lead to excess weight on the next stage of life. Objective: Determine the differences in nutritional status between exclusively fed infants with direct breastfeeding methods and a combination of breast pumping. Methods: An analytical observational study with the cross-sectional approach, conducted in Puskesmas Jalan Emas, Tangerang Regency, Banten. The subjects consisted of 68 infants from direct breastfeeding (DB) and the combination of breast pumping (KBP) groups, were selected by purposive sampling. The data obtained from the measurement of nutritional status and infants’ feeding history. Results: In WAZ, HAZ, and WHZ in DB were -0.48±0.7; -1.47±1.2; and 0.64±1.19 respectively. In WAZ, HAZ, and WHZ in KBP were 0.06±0.75; -1.66±0.85; and 1.23±1.05 respectively. The T-independent analytical test showed significant score (p) in WAZ, HAZ and WHZ indicators were 0.003; 0.470; and 0.035 respectively. Conclusions: In WAZ and WHZ indicators show significant differences between infants in DB and KBP groups. Meanwhile, in the HAZ indicator, there’s no significant difference between infants in DB and KBP groups.

The Low Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Czech Breastfed Infants and Young Children: An Anthropological Survey

The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in a sample of children who were exclusively or predominantly breastfed for at least 6 months compared to Czech references that were constructed based on a representative sample of children, regardless of their mode of feeding. Between 2008 and 2011, a longitudinal study on the growth of breastfed infants was carried out in the Czech Republic. Forty-three GP pediatricians addressed parents at 18-month preventive examinations and collected data on the families’ socio-economic conditions and the infants’ feeding conditions. The children were measured (length, weight, and head circumference), and anthropometric measurements from 10 previous preventive examinations were obtained from the health records. Out of the collected 1775 questionnaires, 960 children were selected according to the criteria of the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study. For the purpose of this study, 799 children who were exclusively or predominantly breastfed for at least 6 months were selected. We found that the proportions of children who were classified as overweight (>90th percentile) or obese (>97th percentile) at 6, 12, and 18-month examinations were far below the proportions of the Czech references. An update of the Czech references and growth charts is highly recommended by GP pediatricians for the valid assessment of growth and nutritional status, including a screening of overweight and obesity in primary preventive health care.