Nutritional Status in Breastfed 18-Month Old Toddlers: Cross-Sectional Findings

摘要

Adequate nutrition is critical for infant and toddler growth and development. Breastfeeding is recommended until 2 years of age or beyond, and breastmilk is an important source of energy and nutrients for many toddlers beyond 12 mo of age. The composition of breastmilk changes over time during the lactation period. It is not yet known how prolonged breastfeeding influences nutritional status in toddlers aged 12–24 mo. The objective of this research was to explore biomarker differences between breastfed and non-breastfed toddlers residing in Metro Vancouver, Canada.