Investigating Relationships Between Breastfeeding Status and Infant Vegetable Experience on Infants' Acceptance of Novel Vegetables. (29th May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Davis, Kathryn; Moding, Kameron; Flesher, Abigail; Boenig, Rebecca; Johnson, Susan
• Is Part Of: Current developments in nutrition. Volume 4(2020)Supplement 2
• Page Start: 967
• Page End: 967
• Publication Date: 2020-05-29
• Subjects: Nutrition -- Periodicals; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Nutrition; Periodicals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; 612.3
• DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzaa054_039
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2475-2991

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: Early life flavor exposure is important in shaping lifelong eating habits. We examined relationships among maternal current breastfeeding status, infant vegetable experience and acceptance of a novel vegetable. Methods: Caregivers ( n = 106, 82% White) and children ( n = 106, 54% male) aged 6–12 months ( n = 46; infants), 12–18 months ( n = 40; younger toddlers) and 18–24 months ( n = 20; older toddlers), participated in a videotaped laboratory visit during which infants tasted up to 8 offers of a novel vegetable (pureed kale). Caregivers completed questionnaires on breastfeeding (BF) status (currently BF or pumping milk, 0 = no; 1 = yes), and infant vegetable experience (21 items, 0 = no; 1 = yes). Infant vegetable experience (VE) was scored as the sum of vegetables tasted by the infant to date (range 0–21). Acceptance of the novel vegetable was coded (0 = refusal; 1 = enforced; 2 = acceptance; 3 = anticipation) by trained coders using feeding videos. Descriptive statistics (mean ± s.d.) were calculated and regression analyses were conducted for models predicting VE and acceptance using current BF status and child age (months) as predictors. T-tests were conducted to ascertain differences in VE by current BF status. Significance was set at P < .05. Results: Half (50%) of children were currently receiving breastmilk (77% for infants, 47.5% for younger toddlers, 21% for older toddlers). Children had been exposed to an average of 13.6 ± 5.3 vegetables and this differed by age of child (10.1 ± 5.2 for infants, 15.8 ± 3.5 for younger toddlers, 17.4 ± 2.9 for older toddlers). Child age (F = 10.8, P = .000, R 2 = .426) was associated with acceptance of kale (1.5 ± 0.7); older children were less accepting (β = –.381). BF status was not significantly associated with acceptance. Child age was predictive of VE (F = 28.6, P = .000, R 2 = .376; β = .638). Follow up analyses comparing infants' and toddlers' VE by current BF status revealed that older toddlers who were breastfed had greater VE than those not currently breastfed (t = 2.3, P = .036; 20.0 ± 1.1 vs 16.7 ± 2.9). Conclusions: Despite introduction to a greater variety of vegetables with age, acceptance of a novel vegetables declined during toddlerhood. Infants and toddlers continued to consume breastmilk, and older toddlers had greater VE; these factors were not associated with greater novel vegetable acceptance. Funding Sources: The Sugar Association.