Salt and Sugar during Infancy

Sugar and Salt during first year of life.

“To be, or not to be, that is the question”

Evidence / References from

1- IAP guidelines for parents

2- IAP and IYCF guidelines

3- ICMR dietary guidelines 2024

4- AAP and US guidelines 2020

5- Australian guidelines 2013

6- ESPHGAN 2024

7- Canada 2014 and south Korea 2021

Avoid sugar and salt till one year of age.

Avoid adding extra sugar in food till 2 years of age.

Reasons-

1. Child require taste programming in early age so salt and sugar are like super taster it will hamper this process. High of it leads to more preference towards salty foods.

2. In infant’s kidneys are bit immature so high sodium may cause problems

3. Dental health – because of sugar chances of dental caries will be increased

4. High salt in food can be cause of hypertensions and metabolic diseases in later life.

5. Breast feeding contains sufficient sodium no need to add extra

Cons-

1. Difficulty to accept culturally require counselling

2. Myths about taste

3. May require extra time to prepare

Avoid cow milk till one year

Reasons

1. High protein and fats in milk may leads to indigestion

2. Animal milk can trigger allergy

3. High solute load can damage kidneys

4. Early introduction of milk can lead to nutritional anemia

5. Animal milk can cause more weight gain and delayed milestones

Cons

1. C0ulturally not acceptable -require counselling

2. For poor there may not options

3. Pressure by family members – require family counselling

Contribution by

Dr. Parag Gaikwad

National Secretary - Nutrition Chapter Central IAP 2022-24

Past President IAP, Pune, Pediatrician Katraj, Pune