COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING - A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

The growth of children in developing countries often declines with the introduction of complementary foods around the age of 6 mo and contin ues to decline up to 18 mo. These growth deficits are accompanied by d elayed development and increased morbidity and mortality. The main cau se is nutritionally inadequate and often contaminated complementary fo ods that typically consist of a cereal-based porridge, with little veg etables and no animal products. Such a diet is bulky, has a low nutrie nt density and a high content of antinutrients. Promotion of tradition al household technologies such as germination and fermentation may be affordable measures to improve the complementary foods. Germination se rves to reduce the bulkiness and thus increase the energy and nutrient density. Fermentation leads to hydrolysis of antinutrient phytates an d hence increased bioavailability of minerals, and may also have benef icial effects on susceptibility to diarrhea. Alternative strategies in clude addition of vitamin C-rich foods and meat that enhance absorptio n of minerals, or direct enrichment of energy and nutrients by additio n of animal products, such as fat, fish, meat or milk, vegetables or f ruits, or a micronutrient mix. (C) Elsevier Science Inc. 1998.