Nutrient Intake of Infants and Toddlers: A Longitudinal View of Nutritional Adequacy

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to describe nutrient intake from food, including breast milk and formula, in infants and toddlers, and identify deficiencies and excesses in the diet when compared to the Institute of Medicine’s Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). The first 2 years of life are important to growth and development of children, but there is not much data available on this population. The Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (2008) is a cross-sectional look at intake for children 0 to 48 months of age however there is no longitudinal view of infant and toddler nutritional sufficiency. This longitudinal cohort followed 60 infants and toddlers over 18 months. Three-day food records were collected at 6 weeks, and 6, 12, and 18 months of age and analyzed using Nutrition Data System for Research. The percentage of those who did not meet the DRIs and the percentage with intakes above the Upper Intake Levels (UL), for specific vitamins and minerals, were calculated. More than 50% of the sample did not meet DRI recommendations for: Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, Vitamins D, E, C, and B6, Thiamin and Folate at 6 weeks; Vitamin D at 6 months; Vitamins D and E at 12 months and Vitamins D, E, and K at 18 months. More than 50% of the sample exceeded UL recommendations for: Zinc at 6 and 12 months; and Phosphorus, Magnesium, Sodium, and Niacin at 18 months. Healthcare professionals may want to monitor the diet of infants and toddlers more closely for nutritional adequacy.