Caloric Compensation in Infants

Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement98 enrolled

Overview

The aim of this study is, first, to describe the evolution of the caloric compensation ability in infants from 3 to 15 months old and, secondly, to assess the links between changes in the caloric compensation ability and the individual characteristics (adiposity, age, gender, infant's eating behavior) and maternal feeding practices. Three series of measurements of caloric compensation abitlity were conducted: at 3-4 months old, at 10.5 months old and at 14.5 months old in the laboratory. In this study, a preload paradigm usually employed in children and adults to measure the caloric compensation ability was adapted to infants below 15 months old. The maternal eating behavior and their feeding practices were measured by questionnaires. The infants' height and weight were measured at the laboratory by trained experimenters.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Conditions

Self Regulation Eating Behavior Infant Behavior

Interventions

The investigators have adapted an established within-subject preload paradigm to assess infant's short term caloric compensation. At each studied age, the measure of caloric compensation required two visits at the laboratory on two non-consecutive days. On the first visit, the infants received a fixed amount of a food preload either low or high in energy density. The order of the two preloads was counterbalanced. After a delay (ranging from several hours in the 3-4 months old infants to 25 min in 10.5- and 14.5-month-old infants), the infants were served an ad libitum meal. Weight intakes (g) were assessed by weighing each bottle/bowl before and after consumption.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 3 MonthsMax age: 11 MonthsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * no chronic health problem or food allergies * not having been fed with hydrolysate formula * gestational age ≥ 37 weeks * born weight ≥ 2.5kg * without having being tube fed at any moment Exclusion Criteria: * infants from diabetic mothers * infants from mothers having celiac disease * infants from minor parents (\<18 years old) were excluded

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

COMPX score

Based on intake data, Energy Intakes (EI) were calculated according to caloric composition of the offered foods from the manufacturers. From the EI data, a COMPX score was calculated at each studied age by dividing the difference in EI from meals by the difference in EI from preloads (presented as a percentage). A COMPX score of 100% reflects a perfect caloric compensation.

Time frame: one week