Longitudinal study of the feeding of children of 10 months, 2 and 4 years of age

A longitudinal study of feeding habits in children aged 10 months, 2 years and 4 years was undertaken in 2 health centers for children in the Paris area. The evolution of the feeding of the same children was studied according to age and the nutritional intakes were compared with the recommended dietary allowances of the Centre National de Coordination des Etudes et Recherches sur la Nutrition et l'Alimentation (CNERNA). The results show that there are excesses and insufficiencies common or specific to the 3 ages. High protein and saccharose or sugar supplemented diets were observed at ages 10 months, 2 and 4 years as it was for lipids at age 4 years. Insufficient intakes of iron, essential fatty acids and vitamin E were present at the 3 ages studied. Insufficient zinc and vitamin B1 intakes were found since age 2 years, and insufficient folic acid and vitamin B6 at 4 years. The energy intakes increased between 10 months and 4 years, especially between 10 months and 2 years, where mean increase was twice as important as between 2 and 4 years. Some children received decreasing intakes: 6% ate less at 2 years than at 10 months and 22% less at 4 years than at 2 years. The quantities of aliments taken increased with age except for some aliments such as vegetables, potatoes and fruit. On the basis of the observation of the evolution of children's behavior, one could propose dietary advices, in order to improve the problems described here.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Iron deficiency and psychomotor development tests. Longitudinal study between 10 months and 4 years of age

A longitudinal study of iron deficiency and of psychomotor development was carried out in 147 children followed between the ages of 10 months and 4 years in 2 well-baby out-patient clinics in Paris area. The tests used were those of Brunet-Lézine. The frequency of iron deficiency anemia was 22% at age 10 months, 9% at 2 years and 2% at 4 years. Ferritin blood levels were abnormally low in 35% of patients at 10 months of age, in 36% at 2 years and in 40% at 4 years. No significant correlation could be found between the Development Quotient (DQ) and biological data at the ages of 10 months and 4 years. On the other hand, at age 2, the mean DQ values were higher in children without deficiency than in those with deficiency with respect to the following biological parameters: hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. These differences persisted even after taking into account variables known to influence psychomotor development.     

Iron status of Asian children aged 2 years living in England

Haemoglobin and ferritin values were analysed in blood from 1057 children, aged 2 years, of Asian parents living in England. Children who had thalassaemia trait or a current/recent infection were excluded. Twenty nine per cent of Pakistani, 25% of Bangladeshi, and 20% of Indian children had haemoglobin < 110.0 g/l. The recent national diet and nutrition survey of preschool children found a prevalence of 12% of 2 year olds with haemoglobin < 110.0 g/l. No single factor accounted for more than a small proportion of the variance in haemoglobin and ferritin values, but the most significant factors that had a negative effect on iron status included the amount of cows' milk consumed, the use of a baby bottle, and mother's place of birth being outside of the UK. Taking vitamin or iron supplements was positively associated with iron status in one or more of the three groups.     

Iron status, energy intake, and nutritional status of healthy young Asian children.

The iron status, dietary intake, and protein energy nutritional status of healthy Asian children ranging in age from 4 to 40 months was investigated. The serum ferritin, erythrocyte zinc protoporphyrin, haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentrations, and mean corpuscular volume were determined in a community study of 138 children. Protein energy nutritional status was estimated by anthropometry and a four or five day weighed dietary inventory was completed by 97 children. Concentrations of the serum ferritin, haemoglobin, and mean corpuscular haemoglobin, and the mean corpuscular volume decreased progressively with increasing age. The mean values for these four indices were significantly lower in toddlers between 21 and 23 months age than in infants less than 6 months old. The mean erythrocyte zinc protoporphyrin was high in the first six months, later falling and rising again to peak in the 21 to 23 month age group. Thirty five per cent of children were iron deficient (serum ferritin concentration less than 10 micrograms/l) and low values for the mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin were observed in 33% and 35% respectively and 17% were anaemic (haemoglobin concentration less than 110 g/l). No association was observed between biochemical iron status and the dietary intake of energy or iron. Nor was there an association between protein energy nutritional status and iron status. Screening for iron deficiency in communities at risk is recommended and nutrition education using trained link workers is preferred to prophylactic iron treatment.     

Measles immunity and immunisation status in Australian children 1 to 4 years of age

Aim: Determine measles seropositivity and vaccine coverage in children aged 1 to 4 years inclusive. Compare data in those who produced immunisation records and those who relied on parental recall. Establish variables associated with seropositivity. Methods: Design: Population- and area-based, cluster sample of 1- to 4-year-olds; households surveyed by trained interviewer. Setting: Australia-wide, excluding New South Wales. Questionnaires completed between February and April 1995. Subjects: 2117 completed questionnaires were returned for children aged 1 to 4 years, 923 of whom provided a sufficient blood sample for analysis. Results: Overall seropositivity was 86% for the 923 children tested and was strongly associated with previous immunisation (P < 0.001) and age (P < 0.001), but not with parental report of a previous measles diagnosis (P = 0.581). Eight hundred and forty-three (91%) reported previous measles immunisation, with 760 (90%) of these testing seropositive. Four hundred and ninety-one (55%) parents/guardians produced immunisation records, while 400 (45%) relied on recall. Immunised children whose parents relied on recall were equally likely to be seropositive as children whose parents produced records. The 923 children tested were representative of the 2117 who completed questionnaires in all factors except age, where children below 2 years old were under represented (P < 0.001). Conclusions: These data support the current second routine measles immunisation prior to school entry, and reinforce the need to promote the first routine dose to achieve measles elimination.     

Iron deficiency among apparently healthy children aged 6 to 24 months in Ibadan,Nigeria

Iron deficiency remains a global public health challenge, with a higher burden in children in the tropics. When it occurs early in life, it may have long-term effects on neurodevelopment. The aims of this study were to assess the iron status of children aged 6–24 months, to determine the prevalence of iron deficiency and its associated factors in Ibadan, Nigeria. The authors conducted a cross-sectional study between March and June 2014. A total of 202 apparently healthy children aged between 6 and 24 months attending 2 major immunization clinics in Ibadan were included. A questionnaire was used to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics, pregnancy and birth history, and nutritional history. Physical examination was carried out on all the subjects, and serum ferritin level was determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Iron deficiency was defined using a cutoff value of <30 µg/L. Fifty-nine children (29.2%) had iron deficiency. No clinical features were found to be significantly associated with iron deficiency. Iron deficiency was associated with breastfeeding (P = .020) and younger age (P = .015) in the study population. One hundred and forty-three (70.8%) of the study participants had anemia, and 39 (19.3%) had iron deficiency anemia. The prevalence of iron deficiency among apparently healthy children aged 6–24 months in Ibadan, Nigeria, is high. There is the need for a national policy on routine screening for iron deficiency and iron supplementation for infants and young children as recommended by the World Health Organization.     

HDL- and LDL-cholesterol in normal weight healthy children 13 years of age

From 108 healthy 13 years old school children who took part on a longitudinal study in regard to serum lipids and lipoproteins 64 with normal body weight were examined. Lipoproteins were estimated by means of preparative ultracentrifuge and polyanionprecipitation (Heparin and Manganese-chloride) according to the Lipid Research Clinics Methods, NIH, Bethesda.Mean values and S.D. were calculated as: Total cholesterol: 155±29, 150±35 mg/dl; LDL-cholesterol 98±21 and 96±34 mg/dl; HDL-cholesterol 44±13 and 44±13 mg/dl for males and females respectively. The few data from the literature showing wide variations in LDL- and HDL-cholesterol concentrations are compared with our results; methodological considerations indicate that for further epidemiological studies concerning the possible risk factors for premature atherosclerosis standaradized laboratory tests should be provided.Abbreviations HDL high density lipoprotein - LDL low density lipoprotein - VLDL very low density lipoprotein - LP lipoprotein(s) - C cholesterol - TG triglycerides - IHD ischaemic heart disease Supported in part by a Research grant Jubiläumsfonds der Österr. Nationalbank, Project No. 1406, Vienna, Austria     

Iron status in a group of Norwegian children aged 6-24 months

An adequate iron status is of vital importance for health and development in infancy and early childhood. Iron status was evaluated in a group of full-term Norwegian children followed longitudinally, at the ages of 6 mo (n = 278), 12 mo (n = 249) and 24 mo (n = 231) by measuring haemoglobin (Hb), mean cell volume (MCV) and serum ferritin. At 6, 12 and 24 mo of age, 3, 10 and 12%, respectively, had iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) defined as Hb <110 g/l in combination with ferritin <15 microg/l. With more restrictive criteria for defining IDA (Hb <110 g/l or <105 g/l in combination with ferritin <12 microg/l), the prevalence decreased to 1-2% at 6 mo and 2-5% at 12 and 24 mo of age. If children with a history of fever in the previous month were excluded, the proportion of children with depleted iron stores (ferritin <10 microg/l) increased from 2 to 3% at 6 mo, from 5 to 7% at 12 mo and from 9 to 13% at 24 mo. Conclusion: Mild iron deficiency anaemia exists among otherwise healthy Norwegian infants and toddlers. The prevention and early treatment of iron deficiency should be a priority for the child health services.     

Low-density lipoprotein subclasses in children under 10 years of age

OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence of small dense low density lipoprotein (LDL) in a cohort of children under 10 years of age and to investigate the relationship to other biochemical variables and to measures of fatness. A preponderance of small dense LDL (pattern B), is associated with obesity, abdominal fat accumulation, insulin resistance and risk of heart disease in adults. METHODOLOGY: LDL peak particle diameter (PPD) was determined by gel electrophoresis in 53 children under 10 years of age and in 65 of their parents: apoproteins A1 and B were determined by turbidimetry. Anthropometric variables, basic lipid profiles, insulin and leptin had been determined previously. Differences between patterns A (large light particles > 25.5 nm diameter) and B were examined by t-test, Chi-square, or Mann-Whitney test. Relationships between the variables were reported as Pearson correlation coefficients. RESULTS: Pattern B (PPD of < or = 25.5 nm) prevalence was 7.5% in children and 11% in parents (17% in men and 5% in women). Most of the children (86%) who had PPD < or = 26.0 nm also had parents with PPD in this range. A strong association was found between children's and mother's PPD (r=0.60, P < 0.001), but this was somewhat less with fathers (r=0.40, P=0.02). Children in the lowest tertile of PPD had a tendency towards a higher body mass index, waist, fat mass and insulin. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of small dense LDL is lower in children under 10 years of age than in their parents; fathers had a higher prevalence of pattern B than mothers and there is some evidence of a familial effect in the inheritance of pattern B.     

Acid-base status at birth, spontaneous motor behaviour at term and 3 months and neurodevelopmental outcome at age 4 years in full-term infants

Objective

The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between acid-base status and quality and quantity of General Movements (GMs) at birth and quality of GMs at age 3 months and motor, cognitive and behavioural functioning at the age of 4 years.

Methods

From a cohort of 84 term children with different umbilical artery pH without severe neonatal neurological abnormalities, GMs were assessed at term and at 3 months. At the age of 4 years, 44 children were assessed by means of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (Movement-ABC), Neurological Examination for Toddlers of Hempel, Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children information processing (Kaufman ABC), Visuomotor Integration (VMI), the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and Precursors ADHD Questionnaire (PAQ).

Results

We found no relationship between pH or GM-quality and quantity at term or GM-quality at 3 months and scores on most of the items of the Movement-ABC, cognitive and behavioural outcome. However, neonatal pH value and GM-quality at 3 months were related to some extent to the presence of subtle signs of neuromotor dysfunction as measured by the Hempel test.

Conclusions

In a sample of infants with a large variation in umbilical artery pH and without severe neonatal neurological abnormalities, acid-base status at birth and quality of GMs at 3 months of age is not predictive for motor milestone achievement, cognitive and behavioural functioning at 4 years, but these parameters are related to a less optimal condition of the nervous system. The latter finding has, however, limited clinical significance.     

Routine iron supplementation in pregnancy has no effect on iron status of children at six months and four years of age

The iron status at 6 months and 4 years of children born to women who were randomly allocated to receive 20 mg of iron daily in the second half of pregnancy did not differ from children of mothers in the control group.     

Cognitive and language development of healthy preterm infants at 10 years of age

In this longitudinal study, forty-three Canadian 10-year-olds, 20 born preterm without significant health problems and 23 born at term, were compared. Cognitive development was measured by the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III. Language development was measured by the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-3 (CELF-3) and language used in a 5 minute interview. The children born preterm had subtle delays. They scored significantly lower on Performance IQ and the CELF-3. The subtests on which they had lower scores appear to require visual-spatial skills. Early intervention focusing on parent behaviours that encourage language development and early screening for delays in visual-spatial skills may be useful.