What are the nutrient needs during infancy and early childhood

-Energy
Infants require 85-95 kcal/ kg body daily to supply them with adequate energy
compared with adults 40 kcal/kg body weight. At 6 months of age an infant weighing
about 7 kg needs about 700 kcal of energy per day. Infants need an ease way to
consume this amount of energy. The basal and total energy requirements are higher
than those of adults per unit body weight. The composition of either breast milk or
formula is ideal for meeting infant’s energy needs during the first six months. Both
are high in fat and supply about 650 kcal/ litre. After this initial period, the use of
solid food along with breast milk or formula can provide the additional energy as the
infant gets older. The energy needs of infants are driven by their rapid growth and
high metabolic rate. The high metabolic rate is caused in part by their high ratio of
body surface area to weight. More body surface allows more heat loss from the skin;
therefore the body must use extra energy to replace that heat.

-Proteins
The RDA for protein in infancy ranges from 1.6 to 2.2 g/kg of body weight. This is
required for tissue growth and replacement. Over 40% of total protein intake should
come from essential amino acids. The recommendations are based on the composition
of breast milk whereby it is assumed that the mother’s milk is 100% utilized. Breast
milk is adequate during the first 6 months and provides about 2.2 g of protein per kg
body weight. During the next 6 months an infant requires 1.6 g of protein kg body
weight and between 1-3 years about 1.2 gm /kg body weights. In the second 6 months
of life the diet of infants should be supplemented with high quality proteins.

-Lipids
The RDA for fats is 3.8g/ 100 kcal (minimum) and a maximum of 6g/ 100kcal. This is
adequately presented in breast milk. Skimmed milk has a significantly low fat content.
Essential fatty acids such as linoleic acid should make up at least 3% of total energy
intake. Fat is an important part of the infant’s diet because it is energy dense and vital
to the development of the nervous system. Deficiency could lead to skin lesions,
diarrhea and growth retardation.

-Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates should supply 30 to 60% of the total energy intake during infancy.
Lactose in breast milk provides 37% of the kilocalories in breast milk.

-Water
The water requirements are determined by the amount lost from the skin, lungs,
faeces and urine and the small amount needed for growth. Human milk supplies water
in amounts adequate under ordinary conditions. Additional water may be required if
the weather is hot and humid and due to losses such as during diarrhea and vomiting.

-Calcium
An RDA of 400-800 mg/ day is recommended. Large percentage of calcium from
breast milk is retained by the infant. Rapid rate of calcification of bones is needed to
support the weight of the body by the time the baby walks. Inadequate intake of
calcium leads to delayed motor development.

-Iron
Iron in breast milk is highly bioavailable. Iron stores of infants get depleted from 4-6
months. There is need to introduce other iron rich foods after 6 months. Milk other
than breast milk is a poor source of iron and also has factors that inhibit absorption.
The RDA for infants is set at 6 mg/ day.

-Zinc
Zinc is necessary for growth and normal brain development. Breast milk provides
adequate amounts of zinc for the first year of life. The zinc content of breast milk is
however dependent on the mothers stores. Zinc is found in high amounts in the
colostrums at 4 mg/ litre but reduces to 0.5 mg/litre at one year. The RDA is 5mg/ day
for the first year and 10 mg/ day between 1-3 years.

-Vitamins of special interest
Breast milk is an adequate source for all the vitamins with the exception of vitamin D.
Vitamin D is essential for the utilization of phosphorous and calcium and is obtained
in great measures through exposure to adequate sunlight. Deficiency of vitamin K
may result in bleeding or hemorrhaging disease of new borns. Breast milk contains 15
micrograms of vitamin K and it is recommended that all formulas contain a minimum
of 4 micrograms of vitamin K.

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Titany answered the question on November 8, 2021 at 07:25