Role of red meat and health in infants and toddlers

Summary

Background
Optimal nutrition in the first 1000 days, the period from conception to the second year of life, is critical for long term health. Research is required to inform dietary strategies which will prevent childhood obesity and at the same time, meet their high iron and zinc requirements for healthy growth and brain development.
Purpose and description
To determine dietary strategies consistent with the developmental and behavioural needs of infants and toddlers, research was funded following successful applications from researchers with a strong background in paediatric nutrition from the Queensland University of Technology; University of Adelaide; Flinders University; and the University of Otago in New Zealand. These studies provide important information regarding current red meat consumption patterns and amounts of red meat required to meet iron and zinc needs as part of a healthy, balanced diet aimed at preventing childhood obesity.  
ObjectiveTo determine the benefits of promoting obesity protective infant feeding strategies at 6 months.To undertake a critical review of evidence on early childhood nutrition to inform the review of the Infant Feeding Guidelines.To determine meat consumption patterns of babies and toddlers at 6, 12 and 24 months.To examine the relationship between dietary patterns and risk of overweight/obesity and the relationship between red meat intake and nutrient adequacy.To determine the benefit of a "Baby Led Introduction of Solids" (BLISS) approach at 7 and 12 months of age on iron and zinc status and other markers of obesity.To determine the feasibility of using dried beef liver powder to improve the nutritional quality of complementary foods in Indonesian infants.
Outcomes
1.       Citations:Askie et al. The Early Prevention of Obesity in Children (EPOCH) Collaboration - an Individual Patient Data Prospective Meta-Analysis EPOCH Collaboration. BMC Public Health 2010, 10:728http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/10/728
2.       Submission during review of NHMRC Infant Feeding Guidelines. ​