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Children
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Complementary Feeding in Newborns
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Complementary Feeding in Newborns

A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Pediatric Neonatology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 September 2022) | Viewed by 21682

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Maria Elisabetta Baldassarre

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Interests: evaluation of the effectiveness of non-invasive markers in digestive disease; clinical use of impedanciometry; relationship between probiotics and neonatal immunity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Early nutrition and growth are key contributors to the modulation of both short and long-term infant health outcomes. The introduction of solid foods (thereafter referred to as weaning) is associated with major changes in both macronutrients and micronutrients intake, with the risk either of nutritional deficit or excess for infants undergoing a rapid growth during this period of life.

The International Scientific Societies of Pediatrics are in agreement on the optimal timing for the start of weaning.  The WHO also recommends continuing breastfeeding up to the 2nd year of life.  According to EFSA, breast milk sufficiently meet the nutritional needs of most infants up to 6 months of age. A clear association between the "timing" of introduction of solid foods and obesity in childhood has not been established yet, although infants who start weaning before 4 months are more likely to be overweight or obese.

Currently, research suggests to deepen the concept of personalized nutrition in all stages of life, including the earliest ones.  Therefore, we think that it’s important to focus on complementary feeding, regarding also the possibility of vegetarian weaning and baby-led weaning, representing the new frontier in the international panorama.

Prof. Maria Elisabetta Baldassarre
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Complementary feeding
  • Vegetarian weaning
  • Baby led weaning
  • Personalized nutrition
  • “growing” milk
  • Protein contents

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review, Other

2 pages, 155 KiB  
Editorial
Complementary Feeding: From Tradition to Personalized Nutrition
by Raffaella Panza and Maria Elisabetta Baldassarre
Children 2024, 11(1), 80; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11010080 - 9 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1193
Abstract
The introduction of solid foods into the infant’s diet is a moment of great change in the routine of parents and children [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Complementary Feeding in Newborns)

Research

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10 pages, 1264 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Minor Proteins Present in Breast Milk by Using WGA Lectin
by Iván Hernández-Caravaca, Andrés Cabañas, Rebeca López-Úbeda, Leopoldo González-Brusi, Ascensión Guillén-Martínez, Mª José Izquierdo-Rico, Mª Nieves Muñoz-Rodríguez, Manuel Avilés and Mª Jesús Ruiz García
Children 2022, 9(7), 1084; https://doi.org/10.3390/children9071084 - 20 Jul 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1901
Abstract
Breast milk is a complex and dynamic biological fluid and considered an essential source of nutrition in early life. In its composition, the proteins have a relevant biological activity and are related to the multiple benefits demonstrated when compared with artificial milks derived [...] Read more.
Breast milk is a complex and dynamic biological fluid and considered an essential source of nutrition in early life. In its composition, the proteins have a relevant biological activity and are related to the multiple benefits demonstrated when compared with artificial milks derived from cow’s milk. Understanding human milk composition provides an important tool for health care providers toward the management of infant feeding and the establishment of breastfeeding. In this work, a new technique was developed to increase the knowledge of human milk, because many of the components remain unknown. To isolate minor proteins present in breast milk by using WGA lectin, breast milk was centrifuged to remove cells and separate the fat phase from the serum phase. The serum obtained was separated into two groups: control (n = 3; whole serum sample from mature milk) and WGA lectin (n = 3; sample processed with WGA lectin to isolate glycosylated proteins). The samples were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS). A total of 84 different proteins were identified from all of the samples. In the WGA lectin group, 55 different proteins were isolated, 77% of which had biological functions related to the immune response. Of these proteins, there were eight WGA lectin group exclusives, and two had not previously been described in breast milk (polyubiquitin-B and POTE ankyrin domain family member F). Isolation by WGA lectin is a useful technique to detect minor proteins in breast milk and to identify proteins that could not be observed in whole serum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Complementary Feeding in Newborns)
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10 pages, 544 KiB  
Article
Complementary Feeding and Growth in Infants Born Preterm: A 12 Months Follow-Up Study
by Giovanni Boscarino, Maria Giulia Conti, Federica Pagano, Maria Di Chiara, Chiara Pannucci, Elisa Onestà, Rita Prota, Giorgia Deli, Lucia Dito, Daniela Regoli, Salvatore Oliva and Gianluca Terrin
Children 2021, 8(12), 1085; https://doi.org/10.3390/children8121085 - 24 Nov 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1982
Abstract
Evidences demonstrated that timing of weaning influences long-term growth in full term infants. However, studies on preterm infants are still lacking, and the international guidelines are focused only on healthy full-term newborn, without consensus for preterms. We aimed at evaluating, in a cohort [...] Read more.
Evidences demonstrated that timing of weaning influences long-term growth in full term infants. However, studies on preterm infants are still lacking, and the international guidelines are focused only on healthy full-term newborn, without consensus for preterms. We aimed at evaluating, in a cohort study, the consequences of different timing of weaning on auxological outcomes up to 12 months of corrected age in a population of neonates born with gestational age < 32 weeks or birth weight < 1500 g. We divided the enrolled neonates in two cohorts according to the timing of weaning: (i) Early Weaning: introduction of complementary food before 6 months of corrected age; (ii) Late Weaning: complementary food introduced after 6 months of corrected age. Growth parameters (weight, length, body mass index, and ponderal index) were measured at 12 months of life. The two groups were statistically comparable for baseline clinical characteristics, and differences on growth parameters were not reported between the two study groups. These results were confirmed in linear and binary logistic regression multivariate models. Timing of weaning is not related to growth of preterm newborns in the first 12 months of corrected age. Studies are needed to reach consensus for the appropriate nutritional approach for preterm babies after discharge. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Complementary Feeding in Newborns)
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13 pages, 755 KiB  
Article
Complementary Feeding in Italy: From Tradition to Innovation
by Patrizia Alvisi, Marco Congiu, Monica Ficara, Patrizia De Gregorio, Roberto Ghio, Enzo Spisni, Pietro Di Saverio, Flavio Labriola, Doriana Lacorte and Paolo Lionetti
Children 2021, 8(8), 638; https://doi.org/10.3390/children8080638 - 26 Jul 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3066
Abstract
Complementary feeding (CF) is a pivotal phase of the individual’s growth, during which children develops their future dietary habits. To date, only few studies investigated and compared weaning modalities between different geographical areas. The aim of this article is to describe the current [...] Read more.
Complementary feeding (CF) is a pivotal phase of the individual’s growth, during which children develops their future dietary habits. To date, only few studies investigated and compared weaning modalities between different geographical areas. The aim of this article is to describe the current Italian practice for CF in healthy term infants among different areas (North, Center, South) of Italy. Two different multiple-choice questionnaires were produced and sent to 665 Italian primary care pediatricians (PCP) and 2023 families with children under 1 year of age. As emerged from our investigation, in Italy CF is usually started between the 5th and 6th month of life. The preferred approach (chosen by 77% of families) involves the use of home-cooked liquid or semi-liquid ailments, or industrial baby foods. A new CF modality is emerging, consisting of traditional complementary foods with adult food tastings (10% of families). Approximately 91% of pediatricians give written dietary suggestions, and 83% of families follow their advice. We found significantly divergent weaning habits among different areas of Italy. PCP have a key role in guiding parents during the introduction of new foods in their infant’s diet and should take this as an opportunity to educate the whole family to healthy dietary habits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Complementary Feeding in Newborns)
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Review

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13 pages, 554 KiB  
Review
Effects of Formula Milk Feeding in Premature Infants: A Systematic Review
by Marta Moreira-Monteagudo, Raquel Leirós-Rodríguez and Pilar Marqués-Sánchez
Children 2022, 9(2), 150; https://doi.org/10.3390/children9020150 - 24 Jan 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 7050
Abstract
The preterm baby is born at a critical period for the growth and development of the gastrointestinal and neuromotor systems. Breast milk is the food of choice for infants during the first months of life, as it provides multiple short- and long-term benefits [...] Read more.
The preterm baby is born at a critical period for the growth and development of the gastrointestinal and neuromotor systems. Breast milk is the food of choice for infants during the first months of life, as it provides multiple short- and long-term benefits to preterm and sick newborns. Despite this, breastfeeding is often nutritionally insufficient, requiring the addition of fortifiers. In other cases, it is important to ensure the necessary nutrients and calories, which can be provided by formula milk or pasteurized and fortified donated human milk. However, the specific guidelines for the use of formula milk have not yet been determined. Therefore, a systematic search was considered necessary in order to identify the effects of feeding with formula milk in preterm infants. A systematic search in Scopus, Medline, Pubmed, Cinahl, ClinicalTrials and Web of Science with the terms Infant Formula and Infant Premature was conducted. A total of 18 articles were selected, of which, eight were experimental and ten were observational studies. Among the objectives of the analyzed investigations, we distinguished nine that compared the effects of feeding with formula milk, breast milk and donated human milk, five that evaluated the effects of different compositions of formula milk and/or fortifiers and four investigations that compared the effects of formula milk and donated human milk. In conclusion, when breast milk is insufficient or unavailable, formula milk is a good nutritional option, due to its higher caloric density and protein content. Nevertheless, the preterm infant’s diet should incorporate breast milk to reduce the incidence of morbidities such as necrotizing enterocolitis and sepsis (related to hospital handling of fortifiers and formula milk). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Complementary Feeding in Newborns)
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Other

8 pages, 448 KiB  
Brief Report
Impact of Thin Meconium on Delivery and Early Neonatal Outcomes
by Hanoch Schreiber, Adi Shilony, Reut Batia Amrami, Gal Cohen, Ofer Markovitch, Tal Biron-Shental, Sofia Bauer-Rusek, Shmuel Arnon and Michal Kovo
Children 2023, 10(2), 215; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10020215 - 26 Jan 2023
Viewed by 2259
Abstract
Several reports regarding the effects of thin meconium on maternal and neonatal outcomes are contradictory. This study evaluated the risk factors and obstetrical outcomes during deliveries complicated with thin meconium. This retrospective cohort study included all women with a singleton pregnancy, who underwent [...] Read more.
Several reports regarding the effects of thin meconium on maternal and neonatal outcomes are contradictory. This study evaluated the risk factors and obstetrical outcomes during deliveries complicated with thin meconium. This retrospective cohort study included all women with a singleton pregnancy, who underwent trial of labor >24 weeks of gestation, in a single tertiary center, over a six-year period. Obstetrical, delivery, and neonatal outcomes were compared between deliveries with thin meconium (thin meconium group) to deliveries with clear amniotic fluid (control group). Included in the study were 31,536 deliveries. Among them 1946 (6.2%) were in the thin meconium group and 29,590 (93.8%) were controls. Meconium aspiration syndrome was diagnosed in eight neonates in the thin meconium group and in none of the controls (0.41%, p < 0.001). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the following adverse outcomes were found to be independently associated with increased odds ratio (OR) for thin meconium: intrapartum fever (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.1–1.7), instrumental delivery (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.09–1.46), cesarean delivery for non-reassuring fetal heart rate (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.68–2.46), and respiratory distress requiring mechanical ventilation (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.19–3.56). Thin meconium was associated with adverse obstetrical, delivery, and neonatal outcomes that should receive extra neonatal care and alert the pediatrician. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Complementary Feeding in Newborns)
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10 pages, 290 KiB  
Perspective
Mediterranean Diet in Developmental Age: A Narrative Review of Current Evidences and Research Gaps
by Ilaria Farella, Francesca Miselli, Angelo Campanozzi, Francesca Maria Grosso, Nicola Laforgia and Maria Elisabetta Baldassarre
Children 2022, 9(6), 906; https://doi.org/10.3390/children9060906 - 16 Jun 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2699
Abstract
Numerous studies in recent decades have shown that Mediterranean diet (MD) can reduce the risk of developing obesity in pediatric patients. The current narrative review summarizes recent evidence regarding the impact of MD across the different stages of child development, starting from fetal [...] Read more.
Numerous studies in recent decades have shown that Mediterranean diet (MD) can reduce the risk of developing obesity in pediatric patients. The current narrative review summarizes recent evidence regarding the impact of MD across the different stages of child development, starting from fetal development, analyzing breastfeeding and weaning, through childhood up to adolescence, highlighting the gaps in knowledge for each age group. A literature search covering evidence published between 1 January 2000 and 1 March 2022 and concerning children only was conducted using multiple keywords and standardized terminology in PubMed database. A lack of scientific evidence about MD adherence concerns the age group undergoing weaning, thus between 6 months and one year of life. In the other age groups, adherence to MD and its beneficial effects in terms of obesity prevention has been extensively investigated, however, there are still few studies that correlate this dietary style with the incidence of non-communicable diseases. Furthermore, research on multi-intervention strategy should be implemented, especially regarding the role of education of children and families in taking up this healthy dietary style. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Complementary Feeding in Newborns)
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