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Infant feeding patterns in the Finnish type I diabetes prediction and prevention nutrition study cohort

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 59, pages 107–113 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To investigate infant feeding patterns during the first 2 y and their relation to sociodemographic factors.

Design: A population-based cohort study.

Setting: Oulu and Tampere University Hospital district areas 1996–1999, Finland.

Subjects and methods: All newborn infants (n=675) with increased genetic risk for type I diabetes were invited to the study in 1996–1997. Of these, 429 (64%) completed the dietary follow-up form by the time they reached 2 y of age.

Results: The median duration of exclusive breastfeeding (BF) was 1.8 months (range 0–6 months) and that of total BF 7.0 months (0.3–25 months). Among the infants 20% were exclusively breastfed at least 4 months (recommendation 4–6 months). Infants were introduced to infant formula at the median age of 1.8 months (range 0–25 months) and other supplementary foods at the median age of 3.5 months (1–6 months). Infant's ponderal index at birth was inversely associated with the duration of total BF. The age of introduction of supplementary foods correlated positively with the duration of total BF. Longer parental education and increased maternal age were associated with a longer duration of BF and older age at introduction of supplementary foods. Infant formula and other supplementary foods were added earlier to the diet of the boys than that of the girls.

Conclusion: Duration of breastfeeding in Finland is shorter than recommended. Compliance with the current recommendations on the timing of introduction of first supplementary food and dairy products is relatively poor. The diet during infancy seems to be conspicuously influenced by the duration of parental education, maternal age and the sex of the infant.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Jonathan Robinson for language editing. The DIPP Nutrition Study was supported by the Academy of Finland, the Finnish Diabetes Association, the Finnish Diabetes Research Foundation, the Finnish Pediatric Research Foundation, the Häme Foundation of the Finnish Culture Fund, the Juho Vainio Foundation, the Medical Research Found of Tampere University Hospital, and the Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation. The DIPP Core Study was supported through grants of professors J Ilonen, M Knip and OG Simell by Medical Research Funds, Turku, Oulu and Tampere University Hospitals, the Targeted Program of the Academy of Finland, the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation on Type I Diabetes, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (Grants 197032 and 4-1998-274), Novo Nordisk Foundation and EU Biomed 2 Program (BMH4-CT98-3314). We express our gratitude to the children and parents who participated. We want to thank the DIPP research nurses, doctors, nutritionists and laboratory staff for excellent collaboration over the years. We are also grateful to Sirpa Pohjola for her skilful technical assistance. Thanks must also be expressed to Mikko Virtanen for his valuable comments on statistical issues.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland

    M Erkkola, P Virta-Autio & S M Virtanen

  2. Unit of Nutrition, Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland

    M Erkkola & S M Virtanen

  3. Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Helsinki, Finland

    H-M Pigg & M Knip

  4. Department of Paediatrics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

    A Hekkala

  5. Department of Paediatric Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Child Health, London, UK

    E Hyppönen

  6. Department of Paediatrics and Research Unit, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland

    M Knip & S M Virtanen

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  1. M Erkkola
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Correspondence to S M Virtanen.

Additional information

Guarantors: M Erkkola and SM Virtanen.

Contributors: SMV has designed the nutrition study in DIPP and is responsible for the study. MK participated in the protocol development. PV-A worked as a study coordinator and was responsible for the quality of questionnaires together with EH. H-MP coded the dietary follow-up forms. ME and H-MP were responsible for dietary assessment and data analysis and drafting the manuscript. All the coauthors participated in the evaluation of results and writing the manuscript.

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Erkkola, M., Pigg, HM., Virta-Autio, P. et al. Infant feeding patterns in the Finnish type I diabetes prediction and prevention nutrition study cohort. Eur J Clin Nutr 59, 107–113 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602045

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