Breast milk tocopherol content during the first six months in exclusively breastfeeding Greek women

2014

EFSA Journal

281

124

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the essential composition of infant and follow-on formula. This opinion reviews the opinion provided by the Scientific Committee on Food in 2003 on the essential requirements of infant and follow-on formulae in light of more recent evidence and by considering the Panel's opinion of October 2013 on nutrient requirements and dietary intakes of infants and young children in the European Union. The minimum content of a nutrient in formula proposed in this opinion is derived from the intake levels the Panel had considered adequate for the majority of infants in the first six months of life in its previous opinion and an average amount of formula consumed during this period. From a nutritional point of view, the minimum contents of nutrients in infant and follow-on formula proposed by the Panel cover the nutritional needs of virtually all healthy infants born at term and there is no need to exceed these amounts in formulae, as nutrients which are not used or stored have to be excreted and this may put a burden on the infant's metabolism. Therefore, the Panel emphasises that maximum amounts should be interpreted not as target values but rather as upper limits of a range which should not be exceeded. There is scientific consensus that breast milk is the preferred food for all healthy infants and provides an adequate supply of all nutrients to support growth and development (with the exception of vitamin K during the first weeks of life and of vitamin D). Whereas the composition of infant formula remains stable over time, breast milk composition changes continuously and therefore infant formula cannot imitate breast milk. © EuropeanAll formulae intended for infants must be safe and suitable to meet the nutritional requirements and promote growth and development of infants born at term when used as a sole source of nutrition during the first months of life, and when used as the principal liquid element in a progressively diversified diet after the introduction of appropriate complementary feeding. Nutrients and substances should be added to formulae for infants only in amounts that serve a nutritional or other benefit. The addition in amounts higher than those serving a benefit or the inclusion of unnecessary substances in formulae may put a burden on the infant's metabolism and/or on other physiological functions, as substances which are not used or stored have to be excreted.The minimum content of a nutrient in formula proposed in this opinion is derived from the intake levels the Panel had considered adequate for the majority of infants in the first half of the first year of life in its previous opinion and an average amount of daily energy intake from formula during this period (500 kcal/day). These minimum amounts should be understood as target values which cover the nutritional needs of virtually all infants born at term for optimal growth and devel...

Section: Vitamin E Content Of Human Milksupporting

confidence: 56%

Scientific Opinion on the essential composition of infant and follow-on formulae

2014

EFSA Journal

281

124

“…This value was closely corroborated in three-month-old infants in one recent study (3.48 mg/L) (Antonakou et al, 2011) Taking the AI of IoM (2000b) and NHMRC (2006) as a basis, the Panel considers that an alphatocopherol intake of 5 mg per day is adequate for the majority of infants aged from 6 to < 12 months. This covers also infants with the highest observed PUFA intakes (i.e.…”

Section: To < 6 Monthsmentioning

confidence: 58%

Scientific Opinion on nutrient requirements and dietary intakes of infants and young children in the European Union

2013

EFS2

196

107

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver a Scientific Opinion on the nutrient requirements and dietary intakes of infants and young children in the European Union. This Opinion describes the dietary requirements of infants and young children, compares dietary intakes and requirements in infants and young children in Europe and, based on these findings, concludes on the potential role of young-child formulae in the diets of infants and young children, including whether they have any nutritional benefits when compared with other foods that may be included in the normal diet of infants and young children. The Panel concluded on the levels of nutrient and energy intakes that are considered adequate for the majority of infants and young children, and evaluated the risk of inadequate nutrient intakes in infants and young children in living Europe. Dietary intakes of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), iron, vitamin D and iodine (in some European countries) are low in infants and young children living in Europe, and particular attention should be paid to ensuring an appropriate supply of ALA, DHA, iron, vitamin D and iodine in infants and young children with inadequate or at risk of inadequate status of these nutrients. No unique role of young-child formulae with respect to the provision of critical nutrients in the diet of infants and young children living in Europe can be identified, so that they cannot be considered as a necessity to satisfy the nutritional requirements of young children when compared with other foods that may be included in the normal diet of young children (such as breast milk, infant formulae, follow-on formulae and cow's milk).

“…The other five studies (Schweigert et al, 2004;Quiles et al, 2006;Romeu-Nadal et al, 2006;SziklaiLaszlo et al, 2009;Antonakou et al, 2011) were conducted in mothers of full-term infants in the EU. In these studies, mean α-tocopherol concentration in human milk, measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), ranged from about 3 mg/L to about 25 mg/L (including all stages of lactation).…”

Section: Breast Milkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…α-Tocopherol content in human milk of about 3.5 mg/L has been noted (EFSA NDA Panel, 2013), based on Antonakou et al (2011). A comprehensive search of the literature published after January 2000 was performed as preparatory work to the present Opinion in order to identify data on breast milk α-tocopherol concentration (LASER Analytica, 2014).…”

Section: Breast Milkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for vitamin E as α‐tocopherol

2015

EFS2

111

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) derived Dietary Reference Values (DRVs) for vitamin E. In this Opinion, the Panel considers vitamin E as α-tocopherol only. The Panel considers that Average Requirements (ARs) and Population Reference Intakes (PRIs) for vitamin E (as α-tocopherol) cannot be derived for adults, infants and children, and therefore defines Adequate Intakes (AIs), based on observed intakes in healthy populations with no apparent α-tocopherol deficiency in the EU. This approach considers the range of average intakes of α-tocopherol and of α-tocopherol equivalents estimated by EFSA from dietary surveys in children and adults in nine countries. The Panel notes the uncertainties in the available food composition and consumption data, the fact that most EU food composition databases contain values for vitamin E as α-tocopherol equivalents, as well as the contribution of average α-tocopherol intakes to average α-tocopherol equivalent intakes in these countries. For adults, an AI for α-tocopherol is set at 13 mg/day for men and 11 mg/day for women. For children aged 1 to < 3 years, an AI for α-tocopherol is set at 6 mg/day for both sexes. For children aged 3 to < 10 years, an AI for α-tocopherol is set at 9 mg/day for both sexes. For children aged 10 to < 18 years, an AI for α-tocopherol is set at 13 mg/day for boys and 11 mg/day for girls. For infants aged 7-11 months, an AI for α-tocopherol of 5 mg/day is derived by extrapolating upwards from the estimated α-tocopherol intake in exclusively breast-fed infants aged 0-6 months and rounding. For pregnant or lactating women, the Panel considers that there is no evidence for an increased dietary α-tocopherol requirement, and the same AI is set as for non-pregnant non-lactating women. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin. Previously, the term vitamin E was used as the generic term for four tocopherols (α, β, γ, δ) and four tocotrienols (α, β, γ, δ), which are organic compounds that possess antioxidant activity to a different degree. Factors have been used to convert food contents of tocopherols and tocotrienols to α-tocopherol equivalents. In this Opinion, based on the available evidence and in line with other authoritative bodies, the Panel considers vitamin E as being α-tocopherol only. Its naturally occurring form is RRR-α-tocopherol. Commercially available forms of α-tocopherol include RRR-α-tocopherol, a synthetic form that contains in equal proportions the eight stereoisomers of α-tocopherol (RRR-, RRS-, RSR-, RSS-and their enantiomers SSS-, SSR-, SRS-, SRR-) and is called all-rac-α-tocopherol, and their esterified forms. © EuropeanEfficient α-tocopherol absorption requires the presence of fat. The Panel considered that the average α-tocopherol absorption from a usual diet is about 75 %. This is based on the means observed in two balance studies and in a kinetic study using a multi-compartmental model of α-tocopherol metabolism. After its intestinal absorption, α-toc...