Starting complementary feeding with vegetables only increases vegetable acceptance at 9 months: a randomized controlled trial
Loading...
Date
2022-07-09
Open Access Location
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition
Rights
CC BY-NC 4.0
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Starting complementary feeding (CF) with vegetables only may improve vegetable acceptance throughout childhood.
OBJECTIVES: We aimed to test whether exposure to vegetables only during the first 4 wk of CF increases later vegetable acceptance compared with a control group receiving fruit and vegetables.
METHODS: In this randomized, controlled, parallel-group study, 117 Auckland infants received either vegetables only (veg-only, n = 61) or a combination of fruit and vegetables (control, n = 56) for a duration of 4 wk, starting from the first day of CF at ∼4-6 mo of age. The primary outcome measure was intake of target vegetables (broccoli, spinach) provided by the study at 9 mo of age. Daily intake of vegetables (FFQs) at 9 mo was a supporting measure. Infants' iron status (serum ferritin, hemoglobin) was examined at all time points.
RESULTS: The veg-only infants consumed more broccoli and spinach than controls [mean difference (95% CI): 11.83 (0.82, 22.84) g, P = 0.036 and 10.19 (0.50, 19.87) g, P = 0.039, respectively]. Intake of pear was comparable among intervention groups (P = 0.35). At 9 mo, veg-only infants consumed target vegetables at a faster rate [mean difference (95% CI): broccoli, 3.37 (1.26, 5.47), P = 0.002; spinach, 4.12 (0.80, 7.45), P = 0.016] and showed greater acceptance for target vegetables [mean difference (95% CI): broccoli, 0.38 (0.07, 0.70), P = 0.019; spinach, 032 (0.04, 0.60), P = 0.024] than controls. The rate of eating and acceptance of pear was comparable among intervention groups (P = 0.42 and P = 0.98, respectively). Also, veg-only infants consumed more vegetables than controls [86.3 (52.5, 146.3) compared with 67.5 (37.5, 101.3) g, respectively, P = 0.042]. Introducing vegetables as the first food was not associated with 9-mo iron status.
CONCLUSIONS: Providing vegetables as first foods increased vegetable intake at 9 mo of age and may be an effective strategy for improving child vegetable consumption and developing preferences for vegetables in infancy.
Description
(c) The Author/s 2022
Keywords
food preference, infants, introducing vegetables, vegetable intake, weaning, Brassica, Feeding Behavior, Food Preferences, Fruit, Humans, Infant, Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, Iron, Vegetables
Citation
Rapson JP, von Hurst PR, Hetherington MM, Mazahery H, Conlon CA. (2022). Starting complementary feeding with vegetables only increases vegetable acceptance at 9 months: a randomized controlled trial.. Am J Clin Nutr. 116. 1. (pp. 111-121).