Infant Growth and Development
Infant Growth and Development
Human milk:
Bioavailability of Fe from human milk
Infant formula:
If infants are not breastfed they should be fed a commercial iron-fortified infant formula.
The iron compound in commercial infant formula, ferrous sulfate, is well absorbed (table)
INFANTS NUTRITIONAL NEEDS – SUMMARY of OTHER SELECTED VITAMINS & MINERALS
IRON – Complementary Foods And Control Of Iron Deficiency
Cow’s milk and other dairy products
During the fermentation of milk, lactic acid and other organic acids are produced and these increase the absorption
of iron.
Other drinks
Fruit juices, if made from the flesh of fruit, have a high content of vitamin C, which has a positive effect on iron
absorption if consumed with meals.
Nevertheless, fruit juice in some countries does not contain vitamin C, especially if made by combining jam or fruit
compotes with water.
Meat and fish
Meat and fish have a positive effect on iron status because they contain haem iron, which is highly bioavailable, and
because they have a positive effect on the absorption of non-haem iron present in other foods in the same meal.
Thus the available iron from a meal with vegetables can be improved considerably if a little meat is added.
In one study of 7-monthold infants, the absorption of non-haem iron from vegetables was increased by 50% when
meat was added to the meal
INFANTS NUTRITIONAL NEEDS – SUMMARY of OTHER SELECTED VITAMINS &
MINERALS
IRON – Complementary Foods And Control Of Iron Deficiency
Meat and fish
Meat introduction in infancy
In an intervention study of 8–10-month-old infants, a group receiving 27 g meat per day
had significantly higher haemoglobin values after 2 months than those receiving only 10 g
meat per day
Meat is expensive, but because only small amounts are needed to improve a
complementary diet economic constraints should not be a major limiting factor, especially
if less expensive sources (notably liver) are recommended.
Liver, for example, is both cheap and high in micronutrients such as zinc and vitamins A,
B and D, as well as iron.
Fish contains haem iron and therefore has a positive effect on iron status.
Cereals, pulses and vegetables
Non-haem iron is the principal form of dietary iron, and is found in foods of plant origin.
The main sources are cereals, pulses, beans, vegetables and fruits.
Cereals have a higher content of phytates than pulses and, as a result, pulses represent
a better source of bioavailable iron.
Iron present in leavened bread (made with yeast) has a greater bioavailability than that
found in unleavened bread.
Maternal & Child Nutrition
ASSIGNMENT: Display Weight Increment Per Year for GIRLS using WHO 2006 growth Standards (Carry Marks)
Toddlers through School Aged Children Nutrition
General Growth Expectations: Growth Increments by year (WHO standards):
Toddlers through School Aged Children Nutrition
Toddlers through School Aged Children Nutrition
Length/Height Increment Pattern in girls (cm) by YEAR during infancy, childhood & adolescence
3rd Percentile (-2 SDS) 50th Centile 97th Centile (2 SDS)
1 Year 23.6 24.9 26.2
2 Year 11.1 12.4 13.6
3 Year 7.6 8.7 9.7
4 Year 6.7 7.6 8.6
5 Year 5.9 6.7 7.6
6 Year 5 5.7 6.4
7 Year 5 5.7 6.3
8 Year 5.2 5.8 6.4
9 Year 5.3 5.9 6.5
10 Year 5.6 6.1 6.7
11 Year 5.9 6.4 6.8
12 Year 5.9 6.2 6.6
13 Year 4.9 5.2 5.3
14 Year 3.4 3.4 3.4
15 Year 2 1.9 1.8
16 Year 1.1 0.8 0.7
17 Year 0.5 0.4 0.1
18 Year 0.3 0.2 0.1
19 Year 0.3 0.1 0.1
Toddlers through School Aged Children Nutrition
Changes in protein (g/kg body weight) and energy (Kcal/kg body weight) requirements during infancy and
childhood: Logic for Child Nutrition Consideration
Toddlers through School Aged Children Nutrition
Toddlers through School Aged Children Nutrition –
Methodology for Definition of Nutrient Requirements & Recommended Intakes
For infants, breast milk is used as a model for assessing nutrient requirements.
Dietary reference values are therefore only applicable to artificially fed infants:
The estimated amounts of required nutrients for children are determined by several
methods.
Extrapolation from infant and adult data is the usual approach to estimate the
required amount of nutrients in childhood.
The factorial approach defines the requirement in a two-step equation that includes
maintenance and growth.
◦ The amount required for maintenance is calculated from clinical trials, which
estimate unavoidable losses during a period of negligible intake.
◦ The amount required for growth is a calculated accretion of the nutrient in the
body.
Another method of determining requirements is through balance studies
The required amount of a nutrient also can be established through avoiding
deficiency symptoms that represent a biological nutrient inadequacy, such as iron
deficiency anemia.
Toddlers through School Aged Children Nutrition
Bone growth occurs throughout childhood but is most rapid during adolescence,
In girls, the most rapid period of bone mineralization is between 12 and 15 years, while in
boys, the peak lies between 14 and 17.
Peak bone mass, the point where bone mineral content and density are at its greatest, occurs
between 25 and 35 years of age
Bone growth is strongly under the influence of genetic factors, which are believed to
determine around 80% of the variation in adult bone mass.
Many genes are important in formation, growth and maintenance of the skeleton, but those
that appear to be of greatest importance during childhood and adolescent growth include:
◦ the vitamin D receptor, type 1 collagen, the oestrogen receptor (ERβ), leptin, insulin-like
growth factor 1 (IGF-1), interleukin-6, and osteocalcin
Adolescence Nutrition
Growth: Physical & Physiological Changes:
Bone Mass & Nutrition:
Factors other than genetics.
Physical activity stimulates bone mineralization
Optimal bone mineralization is driven by activities of short and intense nature with frequent
rest periods.
Activity-induced bone growth is greatest at the skeletal sites that bear the greatest load.
This structural response to exercise is seen in both boys and girls, but once puberty is
initiated, it differs slightly.
Interventions of more than 6-month duration that involve 3 or more periods of activity can
increase bone mass by up to 6%, and the benefits of activity in terms of bone mineral accrual
are greatest in children who are active in the pre-pubertal and early pubertal stages.
A study of elite Finnish tennis female players showed that those who started their careers
before puberty achieved two to fourfold greater benefits from exercise-induced bone
mineralization than those who started post-menarche.
Adolescence Nutrition
Growth: Physical & Physiological Changes:
Bone Mass & Nutritional disorders :
Nutrition-related factors
Eating disorders or excessive underweight is associated with reduced production of sex
steroids and expression of IGF-1, hence limiting bone growth.
Excess weight can damage the growth plate —
Calcium & vitamin D status
A randomized controlled trial in identical twins aged 9–13 showed that 800 mg/day
calcium with 400 IU/day vitamin D produced significant gains in bone mass and strength
over a 6-month period.
A number of studies in boys and girls have shown that provision of calcium supplements
to adolescents can increase whole-body bone mineral density and have specific benefits
at the hip, spine, and wrist.
A study of Chinese 12–15-yearolds reported that supplementation of calcium at doses
over 230 mg/day over a 2-year period was sufficient to improve accretion of bone
mineral.
Given the importance of attained peak bone mass in determining long-term bone health,
optimizing calcium and vitamin D status in adolescence would appear to be a high
priority.
Adolescence Nutrition
Nutritional Requirements: Factors that influence the food choices and eating behaviours of adolescents
Adolescence Nutrition
Nutritional Requirements: Recommended Nutrients Intake
Adolescence Nutrition
Nutritional Requirements: Recommended Nutrients Intake
Chicken Egg:
Protein & Amino Acids content of a Large Egg
Egg protein has a ‘chemical score’ of 100,
a ‘biological value’ of 94, and the highest ‘PER’
The major proteins found in egg yolk include low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which constitutes
65%, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), phosvitin, and livetin.
Hens’ eggs contain an inner fluid (the egg white) which contains half of the protein but no
cholesterol; proteins protect the yolk from bacteria, such as AVIDIN, which tenaciously binds
the B vitamin BIOTIN.
Bacteria requiring this vitamin cannot grow in the egg white.
Egg white is made up of some 40 different kinds of proteins.
Ovalbumin is the major protein (54%) along with ovotransferrin (12%) and ovomucoid (11%)
and lysozyme, which has lytic (disintegrate) action against bacteria
a large egg provides only some 3% of the energy in a 2000-kcal diet, it provides 11% of the
protein needs.
The EAAs in an egg contribute between 12% and 31% of the DRI for the various EAAs.
Nutritional Characteristics of Major Child Foods
Chicken Egg: Amino Acids content of a Large Egg
Nutritional Characteristics of Major Child Foods