Abstract
This study determined the intakes of complementary foods (CFs) and milk-based formulas (MFs) by a total of 119 subjects aged 6–23.9 months from urban day care centers. Dietary intakes were assessed using two-day weighed food records. Intake adequacy of energy and nutrients was compared to the Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNI) for Malaysia. The most commonly consumed CFs were cereals (rice, noodles, bread). The subjects derived approximately half of their energy requirements (kcals) from CFs (57 ± 35%) and MFs (56 ± 31%). Protein intake was in excess of their RNI requirements, from both CFs (145 ± 72%) and MFs (133 ± 88%). Main sources of protein included meat, dairy products, and western fast food. Intake of CFs provided less than the RNI requirements for vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, folate, vitamin C, calcium, iron, and zinc. Neither CF nor MF intake met the Adequate Intake (AI) requirements for essential fatty acids. These findings indicate imbalances in the dietary intake of the subjects that may have adverse health implications, including increased risk of rapid weight gain from excess protein intake, and linear growth faltering and intellectual impairment from multiple micronutrient deficiencies. Interventions are needed to improve child feeding knowledge and practices among parents and child care providers.
Highlights
Malnutrition continues to exert a heavy toll on young children
Details of the study design have been described in a previous publication [15] that focused on compliance with WHO Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) [16] among
The results showed that iron intake from complementary foods was relatively adequate in attaining 72.8% of the Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNI) level overall
Summary
Malnutrition continues to exert a heavy toll on young children. 200 million children under five suffered from stunting or wasting in 2018 [1]. Undernutrition results in poor physical growth and development but is known to have an adverse impact on cognitive, motor, language, and socio-emotional skills [2]. Prolonged undernutrition leads to compounded risks of morbidity and mortality [3]. Childhood obesity, the flip side of the same “malnutrition coin” continues to escalate. In 2019, an estimated 38.2 million children under the age of five years were overweight or obese. Once considered a high-income country problem, overweight and obesity are on the rise in low- and middle-income countries, in urban settings. Almost half of the children under five who were overweight or obese in 2019 lived in Asia [4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
