Nutrient intakes and iron and vitamin D status differ depending on main milk consumed by UK children aged 12–18 months – secondary analysis from the Diet and Nutrition Survey of Infants and Young Children

Abstract

Nutrition in the second year is important as this is a period of rapid growth and development. Milk is a major food for young children and this analysis evaluated the impact of the type of milk consumed on nutrient intakes and nutritional status. Data from the Diet and Nutrition Survey of Infants and Young Children were used to investigate the intakes of key nutrients, and Fe and vitamin D status, of children aged 12–18 months, not breastfed, and consuming >400 g/d fortified milk (n 139) or >400 g/d of whole cows’ milk (n 404). Blood samples from eligible children for measurement of Hb (n 113), serum ferritin and plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations (n 105) were available for approximately 20 % of children. Unpaired Mann–Whitney tests were used to compare nutrient intakes and status between consumers of fortified and cows’ milk. Mean daily total dietary intakes of Fe, Zn, vitamin A and vitamin D were significantly higher in the fortified milk group. Mean daily total dietary intakes of energy, protein, Ca, iodine, Na and saturated fat were significantly higher in the cows’ milk group. Hb was not different between groups. The fortified milk group had significantly higher serum ferritin (P = 0·049) and plasma 25(OH)D (P = 0·014). This analysis demonstrates significantly different nutrient intakes and status between infants consuming >400 g/d fortified milk v. those consuming >400 g/d whole cows’ milk. These results indicate that fortified milks can play a significant role in improving the quality of young children's diets in their second year of life.

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“…Furthermore, in all children with CMPA the rec-µg of this vitamin in the control group. Therefore, our study, similarly to the study by Sidnell, et al, shows that fortified foods contributed to the better balancing of the children's diets in terms of vitamin D [21]. Canani, et al also observed a positive impact of supervision of a physician and a dietician on the balancing of the diets of children with food allergies.…”

Do Current Fortification and Supplementation Programs Assure Adequate Intake of Fat-Soluble Vitamins in Belgian Infants, Toddlers, Pregnant Women, and Lactating Women?

“…In our study, 45% of toddlers consumed growing-up milk, enriched milk, or milk substitutes fortified with vitamin D levels similar to formula (1.2 μg/100 mL to 3.1 μg/100 mL), while others consumed whole milk or semi-skimmed milk, which does not contain vitamin D [ 29 ]. A study in the UK indicated that fortified milks could play a significant role in improving the diet of young children [ 12 ].…”

“…Vitamin A and D deficiencies are ubiquitous in Europe [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]. However, only a few dietary intake studies describe vitamin A and D deficiencies in vulnerable population subgroups, such as young children, pregnant women, and lactating women [ 2 , 3 , 8 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. National studies often omit these groups, as they are difficult to reach and require adapted dietary assessment methods [ 14 , 15 ].…”

Iron‐fortified formula use in young children and association with socioeconomic factors in the French nationwide ELFE cohort

“…The scientific arguments supporting the French specific position are the results of randomized controlled trials (21,22), and the findings from larger observational studies (23,24). In five population-based or nearly population-based studies performed in United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands, the effectiveness of IFF consumption on iron status after one year old was shown, including after adjustment for nondiary iron intake, in four studies (20,(23)(24)(25)(26). Therefore, IFF might be considered an effective means for ID prevention after one year when a balanced diet is difficult to achieve.…”

“…The difference between France and other industrialised countries is probably related to the specificities of the French national recommendations that were periodically and strongly reaffirmed and that are shared both by the national health agency and the French society for paediatrics . The main arguments supporting the French national strategy are that using IFF can replace the use of cow's milk, which is a known independent risk factor of ID, and that an IFF based strategy is theoretically easier to implement in day‐to‐day practice as compared with a balanced diet . The scientific arguments supporting the French specific position are the results of randomized controlled trials , and the findings from larger observational studies .…”