DIET AND DISADVANTAGE - OBSERVATIONS ON INFANT-FEEDING FROM AN INNER-CITY

Background: There are few detailed nutritional studies analysing dieta ry intakes and weaning practices of inner city infants aged 0-12 month s. Pasteurized cow's milk (PCM) is not recommended as a main drink unt il after 1 year of age, although early usage is still common. Prematur e introduction of pasteurized cow's milk is associated with increased risk of iron deficiency anaemia. Methods: We therefore prospectively e xamined the dietary effect of early introduction of pasteurized cow's milk on the nutritional intake of 100 infants (mean age at recruitment 7.8 months), whose mothers had already elected to introduce cow's mil k before the recommended age of 12 months in a deprived inner city are a. In addition, a retrospective questionnaire on feeding practices and food choices was administered and information on parental education a nd employment was collected, together with a 3-day dietary diary of we ighed intakes at recruitment. Results: The results indicate that weani ng practices are handed down from family and friends and are intuitive rather than informed. Over 80% of the infants had intakes of iron, zi nc and vitamin D below the reference nutrient intake (RNI) and a furth er 41% had low vitamin C intakes. Prior to introduction of PCM, there was also misuse of infant formula. Twenty per cent added an extra scoo p of powder to the feeds, 10% added milk powder to the bottle before a ddition of water and 30% used microwave ovens to heat the infant bottl e. Conclusion: Feeding practices in a deprived inner city. area differ ed substantially From guidelines and infants were at risk of developin g nutrient deficiencies as well as poor feeding practices.