Infant Nutrition : Proposals for
the Mediterranean Area
Eleftheria Roma
Greece
Concerns about infant feeding…….
• Normal growth
• Prevention of:
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Malnutrition
Obesity
Allergy
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Epigenetics
• Establishment of taste for different foods
• Emotional support
Metabolic Programming in the
Immediate Postnatal Life
Early influences of nutrition on postnatal growth.
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Rapid weight gain in infancy and the first 2 years was shown to
predict increased obesity risk in childhood and adulthood.
• Breastfeeding leads to lesser high weight gain in infancy and reduces
obesity risk in later life due to the lower protein
• the 'Early Protein Hypothesis'
• Cows' milk as a drink provides high protein intake and should be avoided
in infancy.
Koletzko B et al ; European Childhood Obesity Trial Study Group. Nestle Nutr Inst Workshop Ser. 2013;71:11-27
ALLERGY PREVENTION
Infant feeding and allergy prevention…..
Most studies have focused on 4 main areas of infant
feeding:
A. Breast feeding (duration and exclusivity)
B. Cow’s milk hydrolysate infant formulas
C. Introduction of solids
D. Pre and/or probiotics
Nutrition in early life, immune-programming and allergies: the role of epigenetics
The associated parallel rise in metabolic diseases interplay between modern dietary
patterns and increasing abnormalities of both immune and metabolic health
These changes have been associated with changes in the gut microbiome, metabolic
responses and immune function - all of which may contribute to the rising propensity
for chronic low-grade inflammation
In children, Immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels are linearly related to body mass index
(BMI) and c-reactive protein (CRP), and childhood obesity is an independent risk
factor for food allergy.
Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol 2013;31:175-82
Food or environmental
antigen
Maternal Milk:
Antigen Free
Complexed to IgA
Complexed to IgG
Tolerogenic immune mediators
TGF-β, IL10, Vit A, ...
Microbiota modulating factors
Prebiotics (oligosaccharides, glycoproteins)
Antimicrobial (lysosyme, lactoferrine, IgA, ...)
Gut growth factors (EGF, TGF-β, ...)
Possible maternal influence on
neonatal tolerance induction through
breast-feeding.
Mucosal Immunology | VOL 3 NUMBER 4 : 2010
Antigen handling
by maternal
digestive system
Antigen transferred
across gut barrier
Oral tolerance
American Academy of Allergy,
Asthma & Immunology
• Avoidance diets during pregnancy and lactation are not
recommended at this time, but more research is necessary for
peanut
• Exclusive breast-feeding for at least 4 and up to 6 months is
endorsed
• For high-risk infants who cannot be exclusively breast-fed,
hydrolyzed formula appears to offer advantages to prevent allergic
disease
and cow’s
milk allergy
• Complementary foods can be introduced between 4 and 6
months of age
• The Complementary should be delayed, however, until the infant
is able to sit with support and has sufficient head and neck control.
•
J Allergy Clin Immunol: In Practice 2013;1:29-36)
Prevalence of childhood celiac disease and changes
in infant feeding.
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Although there is little evidence that complementary feeding before the
age of 6 months is harmful, some studies have shown that there is a higher
risk of iron-deficiency anaemia.
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In addition, there is a higher risk of coeliac disease in those who have not
been weaned until 6 months of age.
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There is evidence that the infant feeding recommendation to gradually
introduce gluten-containing foods from 4 months of age, preferably during
ongoing breast-feeding, reduces the prevalence of coeliac disease.
Ivarsson et al . Pediatrics. 2013 Mar;131(3):687
UNICEF's position on infant feeding:
• "Babies should be exclusively breastfed
.
• Breastfeeding should be sustained until the baby is at least two years old, but
beginning at about six months breast milk should be complemented with
appropriate solid foods.“
There are three signals for a possible need for early complementation after four
and prior to six months:
-shows interest
in semisolid foods
-appears hungry after breastfeeds
- is not gaining weight adequately
Breast-feeding: A Commentary by the ESPGHAN
Committee on Nutrition
• Exclusive breast-feeding for around 6 months is a
desirable goal
• Partial breast-feeding as well as breast-feeding for
shorter periods of time are also valuable
• Continuation of breastfeeding after the
introduction of complementary feeding is
encouraged as long as mutually desired by mother
and child
JPGN 49:112–125, 2009.
To enable mothers to establish and sustain exclusive breast
feeding for 6 months, WHO and UNICEF recommend:
• Initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour of life
• Exclusive breastfeeding – that is the infant only
receives breast milk without any additional food or
drink, not even water
• Breastfeeding on demand – that is as often as the
child wants, day and night
• No use of bottles, teats or pacifiers
• Follow the ten steps
Weaning
• Age: 4-6 months? Or after 6 months?
• Quality of supplementary foods
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Which food ? First : fruits?, cereals? Meat,
Gluten introduction : when?
Fresh milk?
Yoghourt, cheese?
• Quantity small amounts gradually?
• Protein?
• Opinion of different societies……..
Complementary feeding
WHO recommends introducing complementary food
at the age of 6 months.
The recommendation further specifies that appropriate
complementary feeding is:
Timely: when the need for energy and nutrients exceed what
can be provided through exclusive breast-feeding;
Adequate: sufficient energy, protein and micronutrients
Safe: hygienically stored and prepared
Properly fed: consistent with a child’s signals and abilities for
solids
Europe: Introducing solids/weaning
A recent Cochrane review : no apparent risks in
recommending, as a general policy, exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life in both developing
and developed country settings.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Aug 15;8
The EFSA's panel on dietetic products, nutrition, and
allergies has concluded that for infants across the EU,
complementary foods may be introduced safely
between 4 to 6 months, and 6 months of exclusive
breast-feeding may not always provide sufficient
nutrition for optimal growth and development.
European Food Safety Authority, 2009
Evidence related to the timing of
introduction of complementary foods
• Solid introduction before 4 months and the number of foods introduced was
associated with increased eczema
• No study found any benefit on allergic outcome by delaying the introduction of
solids
• Two studies found association between delayed introduction of milk and egg
• Expose to cereal grains before 6 months opposed to after 6 are protected from
the development of wheat-specific IgE
Allergy 2009, 94:140
•
Complementary feeding should not be introduced before 17 wk and not later than26 wk.
Early diet and the risk of allergy: what can we learn from the prospective birth cohort studies GINIplus and
LISAplus Am J Clin Nutr 2011;94(suppl):2012S–7S.
Medical Position Paper
Complementary Feeding: A Commentary by the ESPGHAN
Committee on Nutrition
• Complementary feeding (ie, solid foods and liquids other than breast milk
or infant formula and follow-on formula)should not be introduced before
17 weeks and not later than 26 weeks.
• Cow’s milk is a poor source of iron and should not be used as the main
drink before 12 months, although small volumes may be added to
complementary foods.
• It is prudent to avoid both early (<4 months) and late (≥ 7 months)
introduction of gluten, and to introduce gluten gradually while the infant
is still breast fed
JPGN 46:99–110, 2008.
Current international recommendations for
infant feeding and allergy prevention
• Breast feeding exclusive
• ESPACI and ESPGHAN : 4-6
• WHO : 6 months
• Cow’s milk based formulas
• ESPACI and ESPGHAN: formula of reduced allergenicity if
not breast fed
• Introduction of complementary foods
• AAP, ESPGHAN: no before 4 m and no after 6m
• WHO/UNICEF : after 6 months
Infant Feeding Guidelines
Australian Dietary Guidelines
• Introducing solids at around the age of 6 months
• Delaying the introduction of solid foods beyond this age
may increase the risk of developing allergic syndromes
• By 12 months of age, a variety of nutritious foods from
the five food groups is recommended
Commonwealth of Australia 2012
Recommendation of Canadian Paediatric Society
• Breastfeeding is the normal method of feeding infants
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Recommend exclusive breast feeding for the first 6 months
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Supplemental vitamin D (400 IU) is recommended for breastfed infants
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First complementary foods should be iron-rich
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Recommend meat, meat alternatives and iron-fortified cereal as an infant’s first
complementary foods
• Complementary foods should also be led by the infant’s signs of readiness and may
be a few weeks before or just after the sixth month
•
Use
the WHO Growth Charts for Canada for optimal monitoring of infant growth
Paediatr Child Health Vol 18 No 4 April 2013
SCIENTIFIC OPINION
Scientific Opinion on the appropriate age for introduction of complementary
feeding of infants
EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA)
•
The Panel agrees with WHO and other authoritative national and
international bodies that breast-milk is the preferred food for infants
• Introduction of complementary food into the diet of healthy term infants in
the EU between the age of 4 and 6 months is safe and does not pose a risk
for adverse health effects
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Presently available data on the risk of celiac disease and type 1 diabetes
mellitus support also the timing of the introduction of gluten containing
food (preferably while still breast-feeding) not later than 6 months of age
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Exclusive breast-feeding provides adequate nutrition up to 6 months of
age
EFSA Journal (2009) 7(12): 1423
Breast-Feeding and Weaning Practices in the
DONALD Study: Age and Time Trends
• Infants born between 2008 and 2012 were 3.3-fold less fully
breast-fed for 4 months than those born before 2004
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With the constantly high consumption of commercial Complementary Food at all ages:
Nutritional adequacy of both homemade and commercial CF needs to be
investigated closer, as their long-term influence on health and dietary habits, e.g.
fruit and vegetable intake
JPGN 2014;58: 361–367
No Effect of Sequencing of Complementary Feeding in relation to BreastFeeding on Total Intake in Infants
JPGN 2014;58: 339–343
Iron intake and iron status in breastfed infants during
the first year of life.
• Healthy infants, fully breastfed at 4 months of age,
demonstrated ID in about 21% and IDA in up to 6% during
the second half of infancy while fed according to the
paediatric dietary guidelines
• This finding supports the recommendation that
supplementation with bioavailable iron via
complementary foods should be started early (4-6
months of age) in order to prevent iron deficiency during
infancy
Clin Nutr. 2010 Dec;29(6):773
Iron and vitamin D
• Supplement of 400 IU per day of vitamin D is
recommended for all breastfed infants
Pediatrics November 2008
Iron deficiency at risk:
preterm infants
The vitamin C and high lactose levels in breast milk aid in iron absorption.
Iron Source
Breast milk
iron-fortified cow milk
formula
iron-fortified soy
formula
iron-fortified cereals
cow’s milk
Percentage of Iron
Absorbed
~50 – 70%
~3 – 12%
less than 1% – 7%
4 – 10%
~10%
The introduction of iron supplements
and iron-fortified foods, particularly
during the first six months, reduces the
efficiency of baby’s iron absorption
Does timing matter?
• Confused? So are we. And so are our patients.
• Practically, it seems that the timing of introduction of
certain foods might matter
• It is unclear why earlier publications showed delay in
introduction of solid food to be preventive.
• The food, dose, frequency, age of introduction, and
heritable background of the child might all play important
roles
And we do not yet have all the answers
Can Fam Physician 2013;59:721-2
Proposal for the Mediterranean area
• Exclusive breast feeding up to 6 months
• Vitamin D 400 IU in exclusively breast fed infants
• Continuation of breast feeding up to 12 months is desirable
• Supplementary foods about 6 months :
– Adequate foods providing sufficient energy, protein and micronutrients to
meet a growing child’s nutritional needs
– Adding new food, according to tradition in each country, every 5-7 days
– Introduction of all allergenic foods before 12 months
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No fresh milk as the main drink during the first year of life
Infant formula up to 12 months
Breast milk ideal for prevention of obesity, allergy and cardiovascular disorders
Hydrolyzed formulas may prevent allergy in high risk infants ?
Thank you