Composición nutricional de las leches infantiles. Nivel de cumplimiento en su fabricación y adecuación a las necesidades nutricionales / Nutritional composition of infant milk formulas. Level of compliance in their manufacture and adequacy of nutritional needs

INTRODUCCIÓN: Un porcentaje elevado de lactantes son alimentados con fórmulas infantiles. El objetivo fue valorar el cumplimiento de la Reglamentación Técnico-Sanitaria (RTS) en la fabricación de fórmulas infantiles españolas y analizar el grado de adecuación a las recomendaciones de composición nutricional y a las recomendaciones de ingesta diaria para lactantes. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se analizaron 31 fórmulas infantiles: 18 de inicio, 10 de continuación y 3 de crecimiento. Para la valoración de cumplimiento y su adecuación se utilizó la normativa europea de la RTS, las Ingestas Dietéticas Recomendadas (RDI) para la población española y las del Institute of Medicine de Estados Unidos y Canadá. RESULTADOS: El contenido de energía y macronutrientes de las leches infantiles analizadas se sitúa en el centro del margen indicado en la RTS y se adecua a las cantidades recomendadas. No obstante, la mayoría de los micronutrientes -tales como fósforo, calcio, retinol, vitaminaD, E, C, B6, B12, tiamina, riboflavina y folatos- se sitúan en el límite bajo de la RTS. Sin embargo, la cantidad recomendada de leche de inicio superaba las RDI en vitaminaE, C, retinol, vitaminas del grupo B y folatos, y de vitaminaB12 para las de continuación. CONCLUSIONES: Las leches infantiles se encuentran dentro de los valores de referencia de la normativa europea de la RTS en cuanto a energía y macronutrientes; sin embargo, creemos que sería necesario hacer una revisión para los micronutrientes, basándose en datos científicos actuales de los requerimientos del lactante y sobre sus posibles efectos adversos

INTRODUCTION: A high percentage of infants are fed with infant formulas. The aim of this study was to assess compliance with the Technical and Safety Regulations in the manufacture of Spanish infant formulas, analyse their adequacy to the recommendations of nutritional composition and the Dietary References Intakes for infants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 31 infant formulas were analysed, of which 18 were infant formulas, 10 follow-on formulas, and 3 growing-up milks. The European Technical and Safety Regulations, the Spanish Dietary Reference Intakes and the Institute of Medicine of the United States and Canada, were used for the assessment of compliance and adequacy. RESULTS: The energy and macronutrient content of analysed infant formulas is placed in the middle of the range indicated in the Technical and Safety Regulations, and meets the recommended amounts. However, most micronutrients such as phosphorus, calcium, retinol, vitaminD, E, C, B6, B12, thiamin, riboflavin, and folate are at the lower limit of the Technical and Safety Regulations. However, the recommended consumption of infant formulas exceeded the Dietary References Intakes for vitaminE, C, retinol, vitamin B and folate, and vitaminB12 for follow-on formulas. CONCLUSIONS: Infant formulas are within the reference values of the European Technical and Safety Regulations in energy and macronutrients, but we believe that the level of micronutrients should be reviewed, based on current scientific data on infant requirements and possible adverse effects

[Nutritional composition of infant milk formulas. Level of compliance in their manufacture and adequacy of nutritional needs]. / Composición nutricional de las leches infantiles. Nivel de cumplimiento en su fabricación y adecuación a las necesidades nutricionales.

INTRODUCTION: A high percentage of infants are fed with infant formulas. The aim of this study was to assess compliance with the Technical and Safety Regulations in the manufacture of Spanish infant formulas, analyse their adequacy to the recommendations of nutritional composition and the Dietary References Intakes for infants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 31 infant formulas were analysed, of which 18 were infant formulas, 10 follow-on formulas, and 3 growing-up milks. The European Technical and Safety Regulations, the Spanish Dietary Reference Intakes and the Institute of Medicine of the United States and Canada, were used for the assessment of compliance and adequacy. RESULTS: The energy and macronutrient content of analysed infant formulas is placed in the middle of the range indicated in the Technical and Safety Regulations, and meets the recommended amounts. However, most micronutrients such as phosphorus, calcium, retinol, vitamin D, E, C, B6, B12, thiamin, riboflavin, and folate are at the lower limit of the Technical and Safety Regulations. However, the recommended consumption of infant formulas exceeded the Dietary References Intakes for vitamin E, C, retinol, vitamin B and folate, and vitamin B12 for follow-on formulas. CONCLUSIONS: Infant formulas are within the reference values of the European Technical and Safety Regulations in energy and macronutrients, but we believe that the level of micronutrients should be reviewed, based on current scientific data on infant requirements and possible adverse effects.

Validación de un cuestionario de frecuencia de consumo alimentario corto: reproducibilidad y validez / Validation of a short questionnaire on frequency of dietary intake: Reproducibility and validity

Antecedentes: El conocimiento de la ingesta dietética de los individuos es una herramienta fundamental para conocer patrones alimentarios y explorar su asociación con el riesgo de enfermedad. Actualmente, uno de los métodos más utilizados son los cuestionarios de consumo alimentario. El principal inconveniente de su uso es la necesidad de ser validado previamente. Nuestro objetivo es validar un cuestionario de frecuencia de consumo alimentario corto. Ámbito: Reus (Cataluña), España. Sujetos: 71 adolescentes y adultos de ambos sexos, con niveles socioculturales y categorías profesionales diferentes. Intervenciones: El cuestionario fue administrado 2 veces en un periodo aproximado de un año para valorar la reproducibilidad. A lo largo de este mismo periodo se administraron 9 recordatorios de 24 horas (método de referencia) para determinar su validez. Resultados: Los coeficientes de correlación de Spearman para el estudio de reproducibilidad oscilaban entre 0,49 y 0,75 para los alimentos y entre 0,44 y 0,78 para la energía y los nutrientes. La mayoría de coeficientes de correlación intraclase oscilaron entre 0,53 y 0,96 para los alimentos y entre 0,49 y 0,78 para la energía y los nutrientes. En el estudio de validez las correlaciones oscilaron entre 0,27 y 0,59 para los alimentos y entre 0,30 y 0,49 para la energía y los nutrientes. Los coeficientes de correlación intraclase en el estudio de validez oscilaron entre 0,41 y 0,67 para los alimentos y entre 0,29 y 0,47 para la energía y nutrientes. Conclusión: El cuestionario permite valorar en general el consumo de grupos de alimentos, energía y macronutrientes con adecuada reproducibilidad y validez (AU)

Background: Knowledge on dietary intake in individuals is an essential tool to know the dietary patterns and explore their association with the disease risk. One of the current methods most currently used are dietary intake questionnaires. The main drawback of their use is the need for previous validation. Our objective was to validate a short questionnaire on the frequency of dietary intake. Setting: Reus (Catalonia), Spain. Subjects: 71 adolescents and adults from both genders, with different socio-cultural levels and professional categories. Interventions: The questionnaire was administered two times within an approximated period of one year to assess the reproducibility. Through this time, 9 24-hour recalls (gold standard method) were administered to determine the validity. Results: Spearman's correlation coefficients for the reproducibility analysis varied 0.49-0.75 for foods and 0.44-0.78 for energy and nutrients. Most of intra-class correlation coefficients varied 0.53-0.96 for foods and 0.49-0.78 for energy and nutrients. In the validity analysis, the correlations varied 0.27-0.59 for foods, and 0.30-0.49 for energy and nutrients. The correlation coefficients in the validity study varied 0.41-0.67 for foods, and 0.29-0.47 for energy and nutrients. Conclusion: The questionnaire allows assessing the consumption of groups of foods, energy and macronutrients with adequate reproducibility and validity (AU)

[Spontaneous resolution of biochemical iron deficiency, without manifest relation to nutrition and growth, in a randomly selected group among the healthy population]. / Resolución espontánea de la carencia bioquímica en hierro, sin relación manifiesta con la alimentación y el crecimiento, en niños extraídos al azar de una población sana.

In order to prevent iron deficiency, especially in children, iron-enriched foods are recommended in developed countries. In a random sample of 300 children (aged 6 months-16 years). 14 children between 0.5 and 4 years were diagnosed as iron deficient but without anaemia. Subjects were considered to present with iron deficiency if they possessed two or more abnormal values of the following biochemical parameters: red cell volume, erythrocyte protoporphyrin concentration, transferrin saturation capacity and serum ferritin. After one year, 12 of the 14 children on reassessment, were considered to be non-deficient in iron. During this period, we observed no statistical difference in dietary intake and growth rate between there iron deficient children and age and sex matched controls. This suggest that children presenting abnormal biochemical values, of iron status, could be observed in presence of normal dietary intake and growth rate, and does not necessary require rectification by dietary iron enrichment.