Summary:
Background. The transition from exclusively milk feeds to mixed food and later to family diet is a critical period
during which sub-optimal nutrition considerably increases the risk of nutrition disorders. Based on studies bringing
new information, a number of international and national recommended allowances for energy and nutrients for this
age group were revised during recent years. The aim of presented diet sheets analysis of children aged 9–24 months
was to evaluate the adequacy of their feeding in comparison with the recommended allowances.
Methods and Results. Ninety-seven randomly selected Prague children were enrolled into the study. Their three
days’ food intake (except for breast milk) recorded in the completed 9th, 12th, and 24th month of age was evaluated.
The breastfeeding rate was 47.4% in the 9th, 35.2 %in the 12th, and 4.8 % in the 24th month. The mean daily energy
intake of non-breastfed infantswas 3.3MJ in the 9th month-old and 3.9MJ in 12th month with 33%of energy provided
by fat in the 9th and 12th month and 32 % in the 24th month. The intake of protein was 22 g, 33 g, and 38 g, iron 6.9
mg and 8.2 mg, and 7.7 mg. The intakes of minerals, trace elements, and vitamins were equal or higher than either
WHO or German (2000) recommended daily intakes except for iron and iodine in 9 months. Breast-fed infants
received 2.2 MJ energy in the 9th and 2.7 MJ in the 12the month, 18.1 g and 22.7 g protein respectively from the
complementary food. Fat proportion was 29 and 34 % of the complementary food energy.
Conclusions. Energy and nutrient intakes of non-breastfed children were satisfactory, except for too high protein,
low iron and iodine intakes, and marginally low proportion of fat in the diet. Lower intakes of iron, calcium, and, in
12th month, also of thiamine and folic acid may be tentatively assumed in breastfed infants.
Key words:
infant feeding, complementary food, nutrient intake.
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