Breast vs. bottle: differences in the growth of Croatian infants.

The aim of the paper was to compare the growth of rural Croatian infants with 2000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) growth standards and to evaluate the potential preventive influence of breastfeeding on the development of obesity in infancy. Two hundred three infant-mother pairs from Baranja, an Eastern region of Croatia, were enrolled into this study. Retrospective evaluation of infants' medical charts was used to obtain anthropometric data recorded at the birth, 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age. Infant feeding mode was self-reported by mothers. Breastfed infants gained the least weight of all observed groups. Up to 6 months of age, formula fed infants had the highest weight gain and after 6 months of age, mixed milk fed infants had the highest weight gain. At 12 months of age, 6.4% of all study infants and 7.6% of mixed milk fed infants were at risk of overweight, while the same risk for the group of breastfed infants was 4%. Most of the study infants achieved higher values of body mass and length than the child growth standards. Exclusively breastfed infants, in comparison with other study groups (formula fed infants, mixed milk fed infants and cow's milk fed infants), had lower weight-for-length z-scores during the first year, which suggests that breastfeeding may have a preventive impact on obesity development.

Intake of some minerals in healthy adult volunteers from eastern Croatia.

Although minerals have important protective effects in human health, their role in nutrition is still underestimated and insufficiently investigated in Croatian population. The aim of this research was to examine sodium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and copper intake in 120 adults, aged 18-54 years. The research was conducted using the 10 times repeated 24-h recall method during 1 year. Participants were separated according to age, as well as according to the sex and body mass index. There were significant differences in daily intake of sodium, potassium, magnesium and copper between age groups, but not for phosphorus and iron. When divided by sex, significant differences in daily intake were found for all minerals. When nutritive density was considered, significant difference was found only for potassium and magnesium regarding sex. In conclusion, considering recommendations, the sodium dietary intake of the examined population is too high, while the intake of iron is to low among women.

Intake of vitamins among clinically healthy adults from continental Croatia estimated by 24-h recall.

The role of vitamins in nutrition of the Croatian population is still underestimated and insufficiently investigated although they have important protective effects in human health. The aim of this research was to examine vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, niacin and ascorbic acid intake in 120 adults, aged 18-54 years (mean 33.8 years). The research was conducted using a 24-h recall method, and was repeated 10 times during 1 year. Participants were separated according to age into two groups (< or = 30 years, and > 30 years), as well as according to sex. There were no significant differences in vitamins intake between age groups. When divided by sex, significant difference in vitamins intake was found. When nutritive density was considered, significant difference was found for more vitamins regarding age, and less regarding sex. In conclusion, considering recommendations, the examined population took adequate amounts of vitamins.