Complementary foods and beverages refer to any liquids, semisolids, and solids other than breast milk or infant formula that an infant ingests for nutrition and energy purposes. The purpose of this systematic review is to explore the relationship between types and amounts of complementary foods and beverages consumed and micronutrient status (iron, zinc, vitamin A, folate and B12 status from birth through 24 months old) during this timeframe.
Taste
Up until recently, there has been no concrete research regarding optimal foods or methods of diet complement introduction; thus, feeding practices often resulted from parental behavior, family traditions or medical lore. Although breastmilk should be provided exclusively for at least the first six months, infants need access to nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods in order to ensure optimal development and health. Studies suggest that early food introduction may influence later nutritional status and food preferences for nutrient-rich foods (like fruits and vegetables). Experimental research on flavor learning during infancy indicates that repeated exposure to fruit and vegetable flavors promotes fondness for these items.
Safety
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees the safety of dietary supplements. Furthermore, they prohibit health claims suggesting these will prevent or treat disease; their website provides more information regarding this subject. PubMed, the National Institutes of Health’s scientific literature database, allows you to search for publications about dietary supplements. Simply enter “complementary foods and beverages” or micronutrient status or analytes like iron, zinc, vitamin B12 or folate into the search box to begin your search. Limit your search to articles published between 1 January 1980 and 7 July 2016. Thirty-one studies met the inclusion criteria, analyzing relationships between types and amounts of complementary foods and beverages and micronutrient status outcomes like iron, zinc, vitamin D, vitamin B12 folate or fatty acid status in infants and young children.
