Estimated energy and nutrient intake in complementary feeding methods in Brazilian infants: randomized clinical trial.

Inadequate nutrient intake during complementary feeding (CF) can affect healthy infant growth and development. A randomized clinical trial was conducted to examine the energy and nutrient intake in Brazilian children randomly assigned to three distinct CF methods. Mother-infant pairs participated in the study, with mothers receiving interventions in one of three CF approaches: (A) strict Parent-Led Weaning (PLW); (B) strict Baby-Led Introduction to Solids (BLISS); and (C) a mixed method. Assessments were made at 5.5 months, nine months, and 12 months of the child's age. Food consumption was measured through 24-h dietary recalls at nine and 12 months, with intake estimates calculated using the Brazilian Food Composition Table. Means or medians of energy and nutrients were compared between groups using ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc test or the Kruskal-Wallis test. A total of 115 infants were evaluated at nine months, and 102 at 12 months. Children in the PLW, BLISS, and mixed method groups exhibited comparable dietary intakes of energy, macronutrients, and micronutrients at both nine and 12 months. Infants following PLW, BLISS, and mixed methods demonstrated similar levels of energy and nutrient intake, underscoring the effectiveness of these strategies in ensuring comparable nutrient intake during the critical phase of CF.Trial registration The trial was registered in the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC) with identifier [RBR-229scm U1111-1226-9516], [ https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-229scm ]. The full data of the first registration was on 24/09/2019.

Marcadores de consumo alimentar e diversidade alimentar mínima em diferentes métodos de introdução alimentar: um ensaio clínico randomizado / Food consumption markers and minimum dietary diversity in different complementary feeding methods: a randomized clinical trial

Objetivo: Avaliar os marcadores de consumo alimentar e a diversidade alimentar mínima em lactentes de 12 meses de vida expostos a diferentes métodos de introdução alimentar. Métodos: Ensaio clínico randomizado com pares mãe-lactente submetidos à intervenção sobre introdução alimentar em três métodos: Método tradicional (MT), Baby-led Introduction to SolidS (BLISS) e misto (combinação das duas técnicas). Os marcadores de consumo alimentar foram avaliados por questionário online aos 12 meses com base nos alimentos consumidos no dia anterior, utilizando os marcadores de consumo alimentar para menores de 2 anos do Sistema de Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional. O estudo foi aprovado no comitê de ética. Resultados: Aos 12 meses foram avaliadas 136 crianças: 45 alocadas no MT, 48 no BLISS e 43 no misto. Os alimentos com maior prevalência de consumo foram: leite materno103 (75,7%), frutas, legumes e verduras 122 (89,7%), carnes ou ovos 135 (99,3%), feijão 115 (84,6%), cereais ou tubérculos 135 (99,3%). Alimentos ultraprocessados que estiveram presentes na dieta dos lactentes foram hambúrguer ou salsichas 3 (2,2%), bebidas açucaradas 2 (1,5%), macarrão instantâneo 4 (2,9%) e biscoito recheado 2 (1,5%).Não foram encontradas diferenças entre os métodos de introdução da alimentação complementar. A diversidade alimentar mínima esteve presente na alimentação de 22 lactentes (16,2%), sendo: 6 (13,3%) no MT, 8 (16,7%) no BLISS e 8 (18,6%) no misto (p=0,793). Conclusão: Leite materno,frutas, legumes e verduras, carne, feijão e arroz estiveram presentes na alimentação da maioria dos lactentes; no entanto, a prevalência de diversidade alimentar mínima foi baixa.O consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados também esteve presente na alimentação dos lactentes. Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos (ReBEC) identificação RBR-229scm.

Objective: To evaluate food consumption markers and minimum dietary diversity in 12-month-old infants exposed to different methods of food introduction. Methods: A randomized clinical trial with mother-infant pairs undergoing intervention on food introduction in three methods: Parent-Led Weaning (PLW), Baby-Led Introduction to SolidS (BLISS), and mixed (combination of the two techniques). Food consumption markers were evaluated by an online questionnaire at 12 months based on food consumed the previous day, using food consumption markers for children under 2 years of the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System. The study was approved by the ethics committee. Results: At 12 months, 136 children were evaluated: 45 allocated to PLW, 48 to BLISS, and 43 to mixed. The foods with the highest prevalence of consumption were breast milk 103 (75.7%), vegetables 122 (89.7%), meat 135 (99.3%), beans 115 (84.6%), rice, potatoes, or yam 135 (99.3%). Ultra-processed foods were present in the diet of infants, including hamburgers or sausages 3 (2.2%), sweetened beverages 2 (1.5%), instant noodles 4 (2.9%), and sandwich cookies 2 (1.5 %). No differences were found between the methods of introducing complementary feeding. The minimum dietary diversity was present in the diet of 22 infants (16.2%), being: 6 (13.3%) in the PLW, 8 (16.7%) in the BLISS, and 8 (18.6%) in the mixed (p=0.793). Conclusion: Breast milk, vegetables, meat, beans, and rice were present in the diet of most infants; however, the prevalence of minimal dietary diversity was low. The consumption of ultra-processed foods was also present in the diet of infants. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC) identification RBR-229scm.

Complementary feeding methods in the first year of life: a study protocol for a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The traditional spoon-feeding approach to introduction of solid foods during the complementary feeding period is supported by consensus in the scientific literature. However, a method called Baby-Led Introduction to SolidS (BLISS) has been proposed as an alternative, allowing infants to self-feed with no adult interference. To date, there have been no trials in the Brazilian population to evaluate the effectiveness of BLISS in comparison to the traditional approach. METHODS/DESIGN: To evaluate and compare three different complementary feeding methods. Data on 144 mother-child pairs will be randomized into intervention groups by methods: (A) strict Parent-Led Weaning; (B) strict Baby-Led Introduction to SolidS; and (C) a mixed method. Prospective participants from Porto Alegre, Brazil, and nearby cities will be recruited through the Internet. The interventions will be performed by nutritionists and speech therapists, at 5.5 months of age of the child, at a private nutrition office equipped with a test kitchen where meals will be prepared according to the randomized method. The pairs will be followed up at 7, 9, and 12 months of age. Data will be collected through questionnaires designed especially for this study, which will include a 24h child food recall, questionnaires on the child's and parents' eating behavior, oral habits, eating difficulties, and choking prevalence. At 12 months of age, children will undergo blood collection to measure hemoglobin, ferritin, and C-reactive protein, saliva collection for analysis of genetic polymorphisms, and oral examination. Anthropometric parameters (child and maternal) will be measured at the baseline intervention, at a 9 month home visit, and at the end-of-study visit at the hospital. The primary outcome will be child growth and nutritional status z-scores at 12 months; secondary outcomes will include iron status, feeding behavior, acceptability of the methods, dietary variety, choking, eating behaviors, food preferences, acceptance of bitter and sweet flavors, suction, oral habits, oral hygiene behavior, dental caries, gingival health status, and functional constipation. DISCUSSION: The trial intends to ascertain whether there are potential advantages to the BLISS complementary feeding method in this specific population, generating data to support families and healthcare providers. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (ReBEC): RBR- 229scm number U1111-1226-9516 . Registered on September 24, 2019.

Could a remarkable decrease in leptin and insulin levels from colostrum to mature milk contribute to early growth catch-up of SGA infants?

BACKGROUND: Breast milk is known to contain many bioactive hormones and peptides, which can influence infant growth and development. In this context, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of different clinical pregnancy conditions on hormone concentrations in colostrum and mature breast milk. METHODS: An observational study was performed with mother-newborn pairs divided into five groups according to maternal clinical background: diabetes (12), hypertension (5), smoking (19), intrauterine growth restriction of unknown causes with small-for-gestational-age newborns at delivery (12), and controls (21). Socioeconomic data, anthropometric measurements and breast milk samples were collected between the first 24 and 48 h and 30 days postpartum. Leptin, adiponectin, and insulin levels in breast milk were measured by immunoassays. RESULTS: A significant decrease in leptin (p = 0.050) and insulin (p = 0.012) levels from colostrum to mature breast milk in mothers of small-for-gestational-age infants was observed. Maternal body mass index was correlated with both leptin and insulin, but not with adiponectin. Insulin levels were negatively correlated to infant weight gain from birth to one month (p = 0.050). In addition, catch-up growth was verified for small-for-gestational-age infants throughout the first month of life. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that a remarkable decrease in leptin and insulin levels in mature milk of mothers of small-for-gestational-age newborns may be involved in the rapid weight gain of these newborns. The physiological and external mechanisms by which these significant decreases and rapid weight gains occur in this group remain to be elucidated.

Poor infant inhibitory control predicts food fussiness in childhood - A possible protective role of n-3 PUFAs for vulnerable children.

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) children are more impulsive towards a sweet reward and have altered feeding behavior in adulthood. We hypothesized that early life inhibitory control predicts feeding behaviors later on in childhood, and the consumption of n-3 PUFAs during infancy may protect IUGR children from developing problematic feeding behaviors. 156 children had information on the Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire (ECBQ) at 18 months, Food Frequency Questionnaire at 48 months and Children׳s Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) at 72 months. There was a significant negative correlation between inhibitory control at 18 months and food fussiness at 72 months. A GLM model predicting food fussiness at 72 months showed significant interaction between n-3 PUFAs, inhibitory control and IUGR, with higher intakes associated with decreased risk for fussiness in IUGR children with poor inhibitory control. Deficits in early inhibitory control predict later food fussiness, and higher intakes of n-3 PUFAs in infancy may protect IUGR children from developing such behavior later.

Vulnerability to dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid deficiency after exposure to early stress in rats.

The exposure to adverse events early in life may affect brain development. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) deficiency has been linked to the development of mood and anxiety disorders. The aim of this study was to examine the interaction between variations in the early environment (handling or maternal separation) and the chronic exposure to a nutritional n-3 PUFA deficiency on locomotor activity, sucrose preference, forced swimming test and on serum and hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels. Rats were randomized into Non-handled (NH), Neonatal Handled (H) and Maternal Separated (MS) groups. Pups were removed from their dams (incubator at 32°C on postnatal days (PND) 1-10) during 10 min/day (H) or 3h/day (MS). On PND 35, males were subdivided into diets adequate or deficient in n-3 PUFA for 15 weeks. H and MS gained weight differently, and animals receiving the n-3 PUFA deficient diet gained less weight. MS displayed a higher food consumption and higher consumption of sucrose solution during the second hour of exposure to the sucrose preference test. No differences were observed in the swimming test. H group had increased locomotion and showed a higher response to amfepramone. No significant effect was observed on serum BDNF levels. BDNF protein levels were decreased in animals receiving the n-3 PUFA deficient diet. We observed that early life environment and a mild n-3 PUFA deficiency are able to affect several behavioral aspects (food and sucrose consumption and locomotor response), and lead to a differential hippocampal BDNF metabolism in adult life.