Abstract

This study investigated the levels of selected essential elements in a brand of industrially prepared complementary foods in the UK for infants aged 4+, 7+, and 10+ months in order to ascertain their nutritional standards relative to the mineral reference daily intakes and interrelationships. Estimated daily intake of minerals was calculated from elemental contribution from the complementary foods and breast milk. The results showed remarkable significant differences (p < .05) in the concentration levels of the elements in the complementary foods. There were no significant differences (p > .05) between the estimated daily intakes compared to the standard values stipulated by the regulatory bodies. Although, the results showed that specific interrelationships were generally justified by the elemental contents, there were few differences with respect to the overall elemental profile. The results of the study support the recommendation of the use of semi-pureed meals by infants as complementary foods. However, the results of mineral interrelationships implicated imbalances and thus recommend fortification of the infants’ complementary foods with iron, calcium, and zinc.

摘要

这项研究调查了英国4个月，7个月和10个月以上婴儿工业生产的辅食品牌中某些必需元素的含量，以确定其相对于每日矿物质参考摄入量和相互关系的营养水平。根据补充食品和母乳中元素的贡献，计算出每日估计的矿物质摄入量。结果表明 ，辅食中各元素的浓度水平存在显着差异（p <.05）。没有显着差异（p > 0.05）之间的估计每日摄入量与监管机构规定的标准值之间的比较。尽管结果表明特定的相互关系通常可以通过元素含量来证明是合理的，但是在总体元素分布方面几乎没有差异。研究结果支持婴儿使用半纯餐作为辅助食品的建议。然而，矿物质相互关系的结果暗示了失衡，因此建议用铁，钙和锌强化婴儿的辅食。