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.

Background Evidences suggest that early processed food consumption may cause harms to infant health. During the first six months of life, it is not known whether timing and quantity of this food group can impact in breastfeeding and growth. The aim was to analyze the interaction between infant processed food consumption and their relation to breastfeeding and infant growth up to six months old. Methods Longitudinal study with a sample of newborns in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Data were collected in six interviews, from birth to six months, in a sample of infants with adverse intrauterine environments. Processed food consumption was calculated by gravity score food (GSF) in relation to feeding supply quality and time. For the analysis, the scores were divided into tertiles, making scores severities: Null, Mild, Moderate and Severe. It was tested its interaction with breastfeeding (exclusive and nonexclusive) and growth (analyzed in Z-scores, by weight for height and body mass index for age). Results A total of 236 infants were included in the study. Greater GSF were associated with better rates of breastfeeding practices and higher growth indicators scores in the sixth month of infants. The adjusted analyzes for family income, maternal age and pre-gestational body mass index confirmed these findings. Conclusion The harms of eating processed foods are more evident the greater and earlier they are consumed, in relation to breastfeeding and infant growth. Future studies should explore interventions to reduce consumption of these foods to prevent adverse health outcomes in later life.

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar a influência da paridade no aleitamento materno e na introdução da alimentação complementar nos primeiros seis meses de vida. Estudo longitudinal com uma amostra de conveniência de pares mães-filhos, selecionados no pós-parto e acompanhados até o sexto mês de vida, de 2011 a 2016, em Porto Alegre, Brasil. Foi analisado o tempo da primeira mamada após o nascimento, a prática e o tempo de aleitamento materno, o consumo de outros leites e a introdução da alimentação complementar. A amostra consistiu de 161 díades, com 74 primíparas e 87 multíparas. As multíparas iniciaram antes o aleitamento materno nas primeiras 24 horas pós-parto (p = 0,019). A oferta de outros leites não mostrou diferença em relação à paridade, assim como o momento da introdução alimentar; ainda que tanto primíparas como multíparas o fizeram antes dos quatro meses de vida. A paridade pareceu influenciar o momento da primeira oferta do aleitamento materno, mas não a introdução da alimentação complementar, apesar de esta ter ocorrido precocemente. Neste sentido, se faz necessária a maior difusão de informações sobre aleitamento materno e alimentação infantil durante a assistência pré-natal e puericultura, para melhoria da saúde materno-infantil.

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IntroductionComplementary feeding (CF) is defined as a period when foods, other than milk, are introduced to the infant’s diet. Unfortunately, frequent consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) has become highly prevalent early in an infant’s life. The aim was to verify the association of CF methods with the introduction of UPF in early childhood.MethodsThis randomized clinical trial involved pairs of mother-infants, allocated in groups receiving different CF interventions: strict Parent-Led Weaning (PLW); strict Baby-Led Introduction to SolidS (BLISS), or mixed-method. The intervention consisted of a counseling session on healthy eating at the child’s 5.5 months of age. A structured questionnaire was created based on the NOVA classification for the definition of UPF and applied at 9 and 12 months. The effect of the CF method intervention was measured by a survival curve for UPF offered for the first time in early childhood between groups. Cox regression was used to estimate its magnitude. The primary analysis was done in three groups (PLW, BLISS, and Mixed) and the secondary analysis was done in two groups (PLW, and BLISS + Mixed).ResultsA total of 139 mother-infant pairs were eligible and 129 followed the study. The prevalence of infants who were exposed to UPF in early childhood was 58.9% (n = 76), being 71.4% in the PLW group, 53.3% in the BLISS group, and 52.4% in the Mixed group, without differences between them (p = 0.133). The PLW group intervention had a greater chance of exposure to ice cream or popsicles (p = 0.032) and sweet crackers (p = 0.009), compared with the other two CF groups. The Cox regression did not find significant differences between the three groups. However, the regression with two groups estimated a 38% reduction in the offer of UPF in the BLISS + Mixed group intervention (p = 0.049).DiscussionThe CF intervention promoting greater infant autonomy (BLISS and Mixed) was associated with a reduction in the offer of UPF in early childhood. This knowledge may contribute to supporting strategies aimed at reducing UPF consumption by the young infant.Brazilian registry of clinical trials (ReBEC)[https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-229scm], identifier [RBR-229scm U1111-1226-9516].

Resumo Objetivou-se avaliar o impacto do consumo de sucos antes dos 6 meses de idade no Índice de Massa Corporal para Idade (IMC/I) e no consumo alimentar em pré-escolares. Estudo longitudinal com amostra composta por mães e seus filhos (n=103) entre 6 meses e 3 a 6 anos. Peso e estatura foram aferidos e convertidos para o escore z de IMC/I. Para avaliar o consumo alimentar, foi utilizado o Questionário de Frequência Alimentar Infantil. Testes de Qui-Quadrado e t de Student foram utilizados para comparação entre os grupos. Não houve diferença nos parâmetros antropométricos entre pré-escolares que receberam ou não suco antes dos seis meses. Aquelas que tiveram introdução de suco mais precoce (≤150 dias de vida) apresentaram consumo mais frequente (≥1x/dia) de suco artificial (63,8% versus 35,7%; p=0,028) e biscoito recheado (21,3% versus 14,3%; p=0,001) na idade pré-escolar. Crianças que receberam suco do tipo artificial antes dos 6 meses tiveram maior prevalência de consumo de refrigerante entre 1 e 4x/semana (69,2% versus 27,4%; p=0,014) e menor prevalência de consumo de achocolatado pelo menos 1x/dia (38,5% versus 69,4%; p=0,027). Sendo assim, crianças com introdução precoce de suco apresentaram maior consumo de alimentos doces e bebidas açucaradas em fase pré-escolar.

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