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PUFA and LC-PUFA intake during the first year of life: can dietary practice achieve a guideline diet?

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 64, pages 124–130 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

Background:

An appropriate supply of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) during early childhood may enhance cognitive development. Little attention is paid to the fatty acid (FA) supply during the complementary feeding period. We examined the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and LC-PUFAs pattern in dietary practice of two study groups and evaluated the results against the present Dietary Guidelines in Germany.

Methods:

The food consumption and FA pattern of dietary practice in subjects from two prospective studies (n=102 and n=184, respectively) at the age of 3, 6 and 9 months was assessed by weighed diet records, and changes during the first year of life were compared with the food-based dietary guidelines for the first year of life.

Results:

Dietary practice in the complementary feeding period was clearly dominated by commercial food products. The FA composition in dietary practice was different from the Guideline Diet and the ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs was less favorable. Consumption of breast milk or formula was still of major importance for the intake of LC-PUFAs in the complementary feeding period.

Conclusion:

LC-PUFAs are predominantly provided by breast milk and formula during the first year of life and consequently decrease when milk consumption decreases. For compensation, commercial complementary food might come closer to the Guideline Diet by lowering the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio through appropriate vegetable oil along with an increase in total fat content up to the legal limit.

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Acknowledgements

The DINO study was funded by the Central Marketing Organization of German Agricultural Economics (CMA), Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP), Brökelmann & Co, Oil mill GmbH & Co, North German Seeds Group AG Georg Lembke. The DINO study food was provided by Hipp GmbH & Co, Vertrieb KG and Nestlé Nutrition GmbH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute of Child Nutrition Dortmund, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Dortmund, Germany

    J Schwartz, K Dube, U Alexy & M Kersting

  2. Pediatric Clinic, Dortmund, Germany

    H Kalhoff

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  1. J Schwartz
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  2. K Dube
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  3. U Alexy
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  4. H Kalhoff
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  5. M Kersting
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M Kersting.

Additional information

Guarantor: J Schwartz.

Contributors: MK and HK contributed in designing of the DINO study; KD and JS contributed in conduction of the DINO study and data collection; UA contributed in construction of the DONALD study and the Guideline Diet; JS contributed in data analysis; JS and MK contributed in writing the paper; MK and HK supervised the study.

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Schwartz, J., Dube, K., Alexy, U. et al. PUFA and LC-PUFA intake during the first year of life: can dietary practice achieve a guideline diet?. Eur J Clin Nutr 64, 124–130 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2009.123

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2009.123

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