Energy is required by each individual’s body to sustain functions including respiration, circulation, physical work, metabolism, and protein synthesis. In children, energy is also needed for overall growth. Energy needs depend on intake and expenditure. Energy requirements and expenditure are affected by age, gender, body composition, and physical activity levels. Health conditions can also affect energy requirements; this is often seen in children with special health care needs.
Infancy is a period of rapid growth that requires support with proportionately higher calorie (energy) intake than at any other life stage. At one month of age an infant’s energy cost for growth is 35% of their energy requirements. By 12 months of age the cost of growth drops to 3% of energy requirements and remains low until the adolescent growth spurt and an average increase to 4%.
While most infants are able to support their growth by drinking breast milk or standard infant formula, some require extra support due to individual feeding issues and/or special health care needs. This edition of Nutrition Focus will review indications for use of calorically dense breast milk and/or infant formula and discuss how to formulate a fortification recipe that is appropriate and safe for use in young infants.
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Increasing Energy Concentration in Infant Feedings
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