Infant Food Intake

To answer this question, 37 children of 2-3 year old in nursery B were studied for 10 months on the effect of supplementation of protein upon the changes of their physical measurement, urine creatinine excretion, blood hemoglobin as well as N-balance(only 10 children, 6 experimental and 4 control, took part in the N-balance test). All children were given the same basic diet of the nursery. A high protein food in the form of biscuit, containing 10 g of protein, was given to one half of the children, while the other half was supplied with a starchy biscuit, which gave the same amount of energy with very low protein content. The average daily energy and protein intake of the experimental group were 1200 kcal (84kcal/kg)and 40.0g (2.8g/kg)per child respectively, while that of the control group were 1196 kcal (83 kcal/kg) and 32.7 g protein(2.2g/kg)per child.The energy intake of both groups were about 93% of the RDA and the protein intake of the experimental and control group were 96% and 78% of the RDA respectively. In order to avoid the influence of other nutrients, Calcium, vitamin A,D,B2 and C were supplemented to the amount of that of the RDA . The results showed: 1) the gain of weight and height, skinfold thickness,midupper arm cirumference and bone age had no significant difference between the two groups (Table 4) ,2) at the end of the study, the out put of urinary creatinine of the expermental and control group in 4 hours were 39.8+- 11.5 and 38.9+- 8.6mg, respectively.The difference was not significant, 3) the average value of blood hemoglobin of the two groups were practically the same. The experimental and control group were 12.5g/dll and 12.2g/dll,respectively,4 )N-balance study showed that average N intake per child per day in the experimental group was 434+- 34.2 mg and that of the control group was 342+-22.7mg (Table 5). The difference was highly significant.The avervge daily N retention of the intake were 7.8% and 4.9% of the intake in the experimental and control group, respectively. The difference was not significant.

It is interesting to note that the energy untake pf both groups go up from the orginal level 81% to 93% of the RDA. Since protein in not the limiting factor, the supplemention of other nutrients may be responsible for the increase in energy intake. In order to make sure of this , more observations on the energy intake of these children were carried out.

18 children of 2-3 years old of nursery B were selected for the observation in 16 weeks . All children were supplemented with calcium, vitamin A,D, B2 And C to the amount of the RDA. By introduction of sme hight energy foods such as butter, sugar, jam etc, or some protein rich foods such as egg and soybean products to the diet, to see the changes in energy intake if the children.

The results showed that there was no significant changes in energy intake by introduction of these high density foods. The energy from protein varies from 10.5% to 13.5% of the total energy. The experimental children took about 991-1245 kcal per day, with an average of 1154 kcal per day. It ia about 90% of that of the RDA, same as that taken by the children in nursery A, and was higher than that of the other children in the same nursery, who were not supplemented withcalcium and vitamins During these period of observation, the growth rate of these children were withih normal range.

Conclusion

So the conclusion may be that the amount of energy intake of the nursery children, up to the level of 90% of that of the RDA is adequate. The less intake of energy of children in nursery B, and also the failure in growth of the children is the result of inadequate amount of intake of many other nutrients, except protein. As far as the food patten in concerned, the lack of milk in the diet may be the main cause . So, to provide a balanced diet to the children is of prime importance for children in the nursery.

Now in Bejing, a reference figyre of the amount of different kinds of foods which should provide to the nursery children have been worked out, and have been worked out, and have been recommended to the nurseries by the Department of Woman and Child Health of the Bureau of Public Health of  Bejing.