Trace Element Intake from Dairy-Free Infant Porridges and Its Nutritional and Safety Implications for Infants Aged Six Months and Older

TL;DR

This study examines the nutritional benefits and safety of dairy-free infant porridges for babies over six months, focusing on trace element intake.

Contribution

The study provides new data on essential and toxic trace element content in dairy-free infant porridges available in Poland.

Findings

A single serving of porridge provides up to 50% of the RDA for copper and 21% for zinc.

Toxic elements like lead, cadmium, and mercury were present at low levels below safety thresholds.

Estimated daily intake of harmful elements did not exceed 0.01 µg/kg body weight per day.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Following the cessation of breastfeeding, cereal-based complementary foods are commonly introduced into the diet of infants. Among these products, dairy-free infant porridges constitute an important component of early complementary feeding. This study aimed to evaluate dietary exposure to selected essential (Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu) and potentially toxic (Pb, Cd, and Hg) trace elements resulting from the consumption of dairy-free infant porridges by children aged six months and older. Products with different cereal compositions available on the Polish market were analyzed. Methods: Trace element concentrations were determined after microwave-assisted digestion using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and atomic absorption spectrometry for mercury (Hg-AAS). Results: A single recommended serving of dairy-free infant porridge contributed to the intake of essential trace elements, providing approximately 50% of the RDA for copper, 21% for zinc, 15% of the AI for manganese, and 5.7% of the RDA for iron. The concentrations of potentially harmful elements were low (Pb: 0.002–0.004 mg/kg; Cd: <0.001–0.003 mg/kg; Hg: <0.001–0.001 mg/kg). The estimated daily intake of these elements did not exceed 0.01 µg/kg body weight per day. Conclusions: Dairy-free infant porridges may contribute to the intake of essential trace elements in infants, while exposure to lead, cadmium, and mercury appears to remain low when products are consumed according to recommended serving sizes.

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