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Objective: The aim of this study was to determine which growth indicator (weight, weight‐for‐length, BMI) and time frame (6‐ or 12‐month intervals between 0 and 24 months) of rapid infant weight gain (RIWG) best predicted obesity risk and body composition at 11 years of age. Methods: RIWG (increase ≥0.67 z scores between two time points) was calculated from weight and length/height at birth, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 years. The predictive value of each measure and time frame was calculated in relation to obesity (BMI ≥95th percentile) and body fat (fat mass index [FMI], dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry scan) at 11 years. Results: The sensitivity (1.5% to 62.1%) and positive predictive value (12.5% to 33.3%) of RIWG to predict obesity varied considerably. Having obesity at any time point appeared a stronger risk factor than any indicator of RIWG for obesity at 11 years. Obesity at any age during infancy consistently predicted a greater FMI of around 1.1 to 1.5 kg/m2 at 11 years, whereas differences for RIWG were inconsistent. Conclusions: A simple measure of obesity status at a single time point between 6 and 24 months of age appeared a stronger risk factor for later obesity and FMI than RIWG assessed by any indicator, over any time frame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated dietary patterns and nondietary determinants of suboptimal iron status (serum ferritin < 20 μg/L) in 375 premenopausal women. Using multiple logistic regression analysis, determinants were blood donation in the past year [OR: 6.00 (95% CI: 2.81, 12.82); P < 0.001], being Asian [OR: 4.84 (95% CI: 2.29, 10.20); P < 0.001], previous iron deficiency [OR: 2.19 (95% CI: 1.16, 4.13); P = 0.016], a "milk and yoghurt" dietary pattern [one SD higher score, OR: 1.44 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.93); P = 0.012], and longer duration of menstruation [days, OR: 1.38 (95% CI: 1.12, 1.68); P = 0.002]. A one SD change in the factor score above the mean for a "meat and vegetable" dietary pattern reduced the odds of suboptimal iron status by 79.0% [OR: 0.21 (95% CI: 0.08, 0.50); P = 0.001] in women with children. Blood donation, Asian ethnicity, and previous iron deficiency were the strongest predictors, substantially increasing the odds of suboptimal iron status. Following a "milk and yoghurt" dietary pattern and a longer duration of menstruation moderately increased the odds of suboptimal iron status, while a "meat and vegetable" dietary pattern reduced the odds of suboptimal iron status in women with children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the adverse health consequences of zinc deficiency are becoming increasingly well known internationally, few studies have investigated zinc status in Australia and New Zealand. The aim of this review was to identify which population groups, if any, in Australia and New Zealand are likely to be at risk of zinc deficiency. A literature review was conducted to identify papers on zinc status in Australasia using electronic databases (MEDLINE, BIOSIS Previews, CINAHL, EMBASE, Web of Knowledge, ProQuest and Cochrane Library). Government databases and reference lists from peer-reviewed journal articles were also accessed. Thirty-one Australasian studies that measured dietary zinc intake and/or serum zinc were identified. Many were based on a small number of self-selected subjects, and did not use the recommended procedures for evaluating the prevalence of inadequate zinc intakes and low serum zinc concentrations. Existing data suggest that at-risk groups in Australasia are toddlers, adolescents (especially those of Pacific and Aboriginal ethnicities), institutionalised elderly and possibly people with diabetes. Data on the zinc status of selected population groups in Australasia are limited. Randomised controlled zinc supplementation trials that include the recommended indicators and other clinical outcomes are needed to confirm the existence of zinc-related health outcomes among the at-risk groups identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to estimate small, median and large daily quantities of frequently consumed foods and identify which food groups are important sources of key micronutrients for 12- to 24-month-old New Zealand children. A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in three cities in the South Island of New Zealand. Healthy toddlers (n = 188) were randomly selected using multistage sampling. Three non-consecutive 1-day weighed food records were collected from each child and the frequencies and daily quantities of foods and beverages, and important sources of iron and zinc, were determined. Fifty percent or more of the children consumed the following foods at least once over 3 days (median gram intake among toddlers who consumed the food): milk (366 g), white bread (29 g), banana (70 g), potato (34 g), cheese (12 g), apple (39 g), 'Weetbix' whole-wheat breakfast cereal (16 g), yeast extract spread ('Marmite', 'Vegemite') (2 g), carrot (17 g) and margarine (4 g). Dairy, cereals and the meat/fish/poultry/eggs/nuts food group were the most important sources of iron and zinc in the toddlers' diets, providing 69.1% of iron and 86.3% of zinc. This research provides dietitians, other health professionals, researchers and policy-makers with detailed information on daily quantities of foods and beverages frequently consumed by toddlers that can be used for dietetic counselling, dietary assessment, and to develop food-based dietary guidelines specifically for toddlers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed the efficacy of increased intake of red meat or the use of an iron-fortified milk on the iron status of healthy non-anemic 12-20 month old NZ children. In a 20-week partial double-blind randomised placebo-controlled intervention trial toddlers (n=225) were assigned to one of, three groups: 'Meat' -- addition of ∼ 0.5 mg of absorbable iron from red meat dishes/day (n=90), 'Toddler Milk' -- toddler's regular milk replaced with iron-fortified (1.55 mg iron/100 mL) commercial Toddler Milk (n=45), or 'Placebo' -- toddler's regular milk replaced with unfortified (0.02 mg iron/100 mL) commercial cow's milk (n=90). Non-fasting venipuncture blood samples were collected at baseline and 20 weeks for hemogolobin, serum ferritin (SF), transferrin receptor, and C-reactive protein. There was a positive change in adjusted SF [mean (95%C1)] over 20 weeks that was 68% (27%, 124%) greater in the Toddler Milk than in the Placebo group and 29% (2%, 63%) greater in the Meat than in the Placebo group (Δ Placebo: -15%, Δ Meat: +10%, Δ Toddler Milk: +44%). Despite no significant difference in change in SF between the Toddler Milk and Meat group, change in SF tended to be greater (P=0.07) for the Toddler Milk group. There were no intervention effects on hemoglobin or serum transferrin receptor concentration. Consumption of commercial iron-fortified Toddler Milk appears to improve iron stores in toddlers. Increased intakes of red meat can prevent a fall in serum ferritin. Support: NZ Health Research Council, Meat & Livestock Australia, Meat & Wool NZ, University of Otago [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimal nutrition during infancy is critical given its influence on lifelong health and wellbeing. Two novel methods of infant complementary feeding, commercial baby food pouch use and baby-led weaning (BLW), are becoming increasingly popular worldwide. Household food insecurity may influence complementary feeding practices adopted by families, but no studies have investigated the use of BLW and baby food pouches in families experiencing food insecurity. The First Foods New Zealand study was a multicentre, observational study in infants 7.0-9.9 months of age. Households (n = 604) were classified into one of three categories of food insecurity (severely food insecure, moderately food insecure, and food secure). The use of complementary feeding practices was assessed via a self-administered questionnaire, both at the current age (mean 8.4 months) and retrospectively at 6 months. Mothers experiencing severe food insecurity had 5.70 times the odds of currently using commercial baby food pouches frequently (≥5 times/week) compared to food secure mothers (95% CI [1.54, 21.01]), reporting that pouches were 'easy to use' (89%) and made it 'easy to get fruits and vegetables in' (64%). In contrast, no evidence of a difference in the prevalence of current BLW was observed among mothers experiencing moderate food insecurity (adjusted OR; 1.28, 95% CI [0.73, 2.24]) or severe food insecurity (adjusted OR; 1.03, 95% CI [0.44, 2.43]) compared to food secure mothers. The high prevalence of frequent commercial baby food pouch use in food insecure households underscores the need for research to determine whether frequent pouch use impacts infant health., (© 2024 The Author(s). Maternal & Child Nutrition published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)