Intake of energy providing liquids during the first year of life in five European countries.
BACKGROUND
Intake of energy providing liquids (EPL) other than breast milk or formula to infants is discouraged because it may displace milk intake. Data on actual practice is lacking.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the current practice of EPL supply to infants in five European countries.


METHODS
Breastfed (BF) infants and infants fed using two formulae (FF) with different protein content were recruited from October 2002 to June 2004. Three-day weighed food protocols of 1368 infants were obtained monthly at the ages of 1 to 9 and again at 12 completed months.


RESULTS
At the age of 4 months, 13% of BF and 43% of FF infants received EPL. FF infants started EPL earlier (median 17 weeks) than BF infants (median 30 weeks). EPL intake was associated with a lower intake of formula milk and solids (kcal/d) in the first year of life. Multiple regression analysis showed significant differences in EPL introduction between the individual countries.


CONCLUSIONS
In contrast to recommendations, EPL is frequently given during the first months of life to breastfed and particularly to formula fed infants. Infants given EPL showed lower intakes of infant formula and solids. Caregivers should receive better counselling on appropriate infant feeding.
Schiess
Sonia A
SA
Div. Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University of Munich Medical Centre, Lindwurmstr. 4, D-80337 Munich, Germany.
Grote
Veit
V
Scaglioni
Silvia
S
Luque
Veronica
V
Martin
Francoise
F
Stolarczyk
Anna
A
Vecchi
Fiammetta
F
Koletzko
Berthold
B
D001628:Beverages; D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001942:Breast Feeding; D004326:Drinking; D002149:Energy Intake; D005060:Europe; D005638:Fruit / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D041943:Infant Formula; D016015:Logistic Models; D008895:Milk, Human; D014675:Vegetables / Q000378:metabolism