Nutrition and Growth Flashcards
What are essential nutrients needed for?
Replace losses and to grow new tissue
Why is nutrition important?
Energy needed to permit metabolic functions
Maintenance, growth ad development
Develop immunity
What are the phases of child growth?
Infant = nutrient led Child = growth hormone led Pubertal = sex steroid led
Are the phases of child growth clear cut?
No = they merge gradually over time
What is the lower reference nutrient intake (LRNI)?
Nutrient intake sufficient for the 3% of the population with the lowest needs
What is the estimated average requirement (EAR)?
Used to calculate energy requirements for population = about 50% of population will need more than EAR and 50% will need less
What is the reference nutrient intake (RNI)?
Nutrient intake sufficient for 97% of the population
As a population, is the RNI being met?
Yes = the mean protein intake for each age group is above the RNI
What is the RNI for protein?
Age 4-6 months = 12.7g/day
Age 7-9 months = 13.7g/day
Age 10-11 months = 14.9g/day
Age 12-18 months = 14.5g/day
How is the energy reference value calculated for children aged 0-12 months?
Energy deposited in new tissue + total energy expenditure
What is an energy deposit classed as in a child aged between 1-18 years?
1% increase in physical activity level
How is healthy body weight decided in children aged 1-18 years old?
EAR calculated at median activity level values
Calculated for less or more active children by the 25th and 75th centile physical activity levels respectively
What is the RNI of vitamin A and what are some dietary sources of it?
RNI = 350-400 micrograms/day
Found in cheese, eggs and yogurt
What is the RNI of vitamin C and what is it found in?
RNI = 25-30mg/day
Found in oranges, blackcurrants and potatoes
What is the RNI of vitamin D and what are some sources of it?
RNI = 7-8.5 micrograms/day
Gained from sunlight and small amounts from oily fish
Is the RNI being met for vitamin D?
No = deficiency was reported in all age groups on both breastfed and non-breastfed children
What supplements are recommended in 6 month children consuming less than 500ml/day of formula milk?
Vitamins A, C and D
When should breastfeeding babies start taking vitamin D supplements?
Should take 8.5-10mg a day by two weeks of age
How much vitamin D supplementation should breastfeeding mothers take?
10 micrograms per day
Is the RNI for sodium being met?
Yes = it is being exceeded in all age groups apart from children aged from 4-6 months
What is the RNI for sodium?
Age 4-6 months = 280mg
Age 7-9 months = 320mg
Age 10-11 months = 350mg
Age 12-18 months = 500mg
How much sodium is contained in 1g of salt?
393mg
How much sodium is recommended in children aged between 0-12 months overall?
Less than 400mg per day (less than 1g)
How much sodium is recommended in children aged between 1-3 years old?
Less than 800mg per day (less than 2g)
What are the revised dietary goals for Scotland?
At least 5 fruit and veg a day
I portion of oily fish a week
Total fat accounts for no more than 35% of food energy
Saturated fatty acids no more than 11% of food energy
Free sugars amount to no more than 5% of food energy
At least 25g per day of fibre
What nutrition is recommended for the first 6 months of an infant’s life?
Exclusive breastfeeding
What are some types of infant formula?
Modified cows milk, whey or casein based formula
What are some negative features of formula milk?
Don’t provide antimicrobial or bioactive substances that are present in breastmilk
Change in brand isn’t recommended so have to stick to one kind
What kind of formula milk is recommended for the first year of an infant’s life?
Whey based formula milk
What age group is follow-on milk intended for?
For infants aged over 6 months
Why is follow-on milk not recommended?
Provides no advantage to standard infant formula milk
When should the transition from exclusive milk diet to family foods begin?
At about 6 months = baby not getting adequate nutrition from breastmilk alone, can start earlier but never before 4 months old
What should be the main milk consumed in a baby transitioning to solid foods?
Breastmilk
What is weaning defined as?
Process of introducing foods with an increase in variety of texture, flavour, aroma and appearance
Why must the average density of food not be less than 1 kcal/g when a baby is weaning?
Low energy foods can limit energy intake = only exception is if meals are going to be offered more frequently
When can full fat cows milk be introduced to a baby’s diet?
Used in small amounts in cooking from 6-9 months
Gradually introduced as drink from 12 months
When can semi-skimmed and skimmed milk be introduced to a child’s diet?
Semi-skimmed = never before 2 years old Skimmed = never before 5 years old
What are some features of the first foods a baby is given?
Should be gluten free, salty foods should be avoided, sugar and salt shouldn’t be added, give foods rich in absorbable iron early
How should food that may cause allergies be introduced?
One at a time
When can children start to consume whole nuts and seeds?
Once they are five years old
How should teeth be cleaned in children?
Cleaned gently twice a day as soon as they appear
How often should solid foods be eaten in children aged between 6-8 months old?
2-3 times daily
When should solid foods be increased to 3-4 times a day in children?
Between 9-11 months
From age 12-24 months also include nutritious snacks
What may impact nutrition in young children?
Still depend on carers for food so vulnerable to parenting and to acute illness
What starts to develop in school age children?
Eating patterns and behaviour patterns (activity)
What may impact the nutrition of a school age child?
Chronic disease, disordered eating patterns (ie faddism), supply/demand imbalance (obesity)
Why do teenagers have increased nutritional demands?
Because they have accelerated growth
What tends to affect the nutritional status of teenagers?
Obesity, eating disorders, early pregnancy
What are some agents passed from mother to her child via the breastmilk?
Immunological factors, anti-infective agents, growth factors
What are the benefits of breast feeding?
Reduces diarrhoea and respiratory infections
Lowers risk of atopic disease, obesity and breast cancer
Associated with higher IQ
When should children be introduced to beakers/drinking cups?
From 6 months old
What factors have been associated with an increase in dental caries in children?
Amount of free sugars in diet and the frequency of free sugar consumption
What are some factors that may cause someone to start a baby on solid food too early?
Living in a deprived area
Opinion of infant’s maternal grandmother
Personal disagreement with recommendations
Lack of encouragement from peers to wait
Receiving free samples of manufactured food
What are some public health interventions aimed at improving nutrition in children?
Healthy start = welfare food scheme
Childsmile = dental programme
Child healthy weight and physical activity programmes
Community food and health programmes
