Search

Breast-fed infants were compared with infants fed a prepared formula not fortified with iron during the first nine months of life. Despite efforts to provide equal iron intakes from cereal and other foods, the breast-fed infants ate less iron-containing foods than the formula-fed infants. The incidence of mild anemia and biochemical iron deficiency was the same in both groups. The breast-fed infants had a significantly lower total iron binding capacity. Breast-fed infants appear to utilize iron more efficiently than formula-fed infants.

Consecutive weekly determinations of plasma retinol, alpha-tocopherol, retinol-binding protein, prealbumin, and zinc were performed on a group of 58 infants weighing less than 2000 g at birth in an intensive-care nursery. Data were classified by the feeding regimen of the preceding week: parenteral, premature formula, or own mother's milk. Mean plasma-retinol values were less than 20 mcg/dl, the lower limit of normal for adults, with the highest values in the formula-fed group. Retinol-binding protein and prealbumin values were lowest in the parenterally-fed group. Alpha-tocopherol concentrations were consistently maintained at levels higher than 500 mcg/dl only in infants fed their own mother's milk. Mean zinc concentrations above 70 mcg/dl, the lower limit of normal for adults, occurred only in parenterally fed infants. Doubling the recommended vitamin supplement in formula-fed infants did not produce a significant increase in plasma retinol or tocopherol.

Using the recommendations of the Committe on Nutrition of the American Academy of Pediatrics for infant formulas as a scientific base, practical guidelines for feeding infants are given. Breast feeding or the use of a prepared formula meets these recommendations while evaporated milk, fresh cow's milk, and skimmed milk, despite widespread use for many years, do not. The feeding of strained foods and infants cereals should be begun when the infant has reached the stage of development appropriate for feeding from a spoon and swallowing nonliquid foods, usually between 3 and 6 months of age. Lifelong eating patterns begin during this period. Adjusting caloric intake to needs and learning to enjoy a variety of foods are major objectives of feeding practices.