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Calcium to phosphorus ratio, essential elements and vitamin D content of infant foods in the UK: possible implications for bone health

Calcium to phosphorus ratio, essential elements and vitamin D content of infant foods in the UK: possible implications for bone health

Loughrill, Emma, Wray, David ORCID: 0000-0002-0799-2730, Christides, Tatiana and Zand Fard, Nazanin ORCID: 0000-0003-2058-2354 (2016) Calcium to phosphorus ratio, essential elements and vitamin D content of infant foods in the UK: possible implications for bone health. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 13 (3):e12368. ISSN 1740-8695 (Print), 1740-8709 (Online) (doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12368)

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Abstract

Adequate intake of calcium and phosphorus in the appropriate ratio of 1–2:1 (Ca:P), in addition to magnesium and vitamin D, is vital for bone health and development of infants. In this feasibility study, the ratio of Ca:P in conjunction with vitamin D and other essential elements (Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, and Zn) in a range of commercial infant food products in the UK was investigated. The elemental analysis was carried out using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, and vitamin D levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The quantitative data were further evaluated, based on a standardised menu, to measure the total daily intake of an infant aged 7–12 months against the Reference Nutrient Intake. The results from the study show that the Ca:P ratio of the infant's total dietary intake was within the recommended range at 1.49:1. However, the level of intake for each of the nutrients analyzed, with the exception of sodium, was found to be above the Reference Nutrient Intake, which warrants further investigation in relation to both micronutrient interactions and in situations where the intake of fortified infant formula milk is compromised. Finally, as the study is the first to include consumption of infant snack products, the level of total calorie intake was also calculated in order to assess the total daily estimated energy intake; the results indicate that energy intakes exceed recommendations by 42%, which may have implications for obesity.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Bone health; Calcium:phosphorus ratio; Commercial infant foods; Essential elements; Infant snacks; Reference nutrient intake; Vitamin D
Subjects: R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ101 Child Health. Child health services
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group: Faculty of Engineering & Science
Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > School of Human Sciences (HUM)
Related URLs:
Last Modified: 09 Oct 2021 04:45
URI: http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/15721

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