Optimal timing of introduction of complementary feeding: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors

Zahra A. Padhani, Aga Khan University
Jai K. Das, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Faareha A. Siddiqui, Aga Khan University
Rehana A. Salam, University of Sydney, Australia
zohra S. lassi, University of Adelaide, Australia
Durray Shahwar Abid Khan, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Ammaar M A Abbasi, Aga Khan University
Emily C. Keats, The Hospital for Sick Children, Canada
Sajid Bashir Soofi, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Aga Khan UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Department

Women and Child Health; Paediatrics and Child Health; Institute for Global Health and Development

Abstract

Context: The timing of introducing complementary feeding (CF) is crucial because premature or delayed CF can be associated with adverse health outcomes in childhood and adulthood.
Objective: This systematic review aims to evaluate the impact of the timing of CF introduction on health, nutrition, and developmental outcomes among normal-term infants.
Data sources: Electronic databases and trial registries were searched, along with the reference lists of the included studies and relevant systematic reviews.
Data extraction: Two investigators independently extracted data from the included studies on a standardized data-extraction form.
Data analysis: Data were meta-analyzed separately for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies on the basis of early introduction of CF (< 3 months, < 4 months, < 6 months of age) or late introduction of CF (> 6 months, > 8 months of age). Evidence was summarized according to GRADE criteria. In total, 268 documents were included in the review, of which 7 were RCTs (from 24 articles) and 217 were observational studies (from 244 articles). Evidence from RCTs did not suggest an impact of early introduction, while low-certainty evidence from observational studies suggested that early introduction of CF (< 6 months) might increase body mass index (BMI) z score and overweight/obesity. Early introduction at < 3 months might increase BMI and odds of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), and early introduction at < 4 months might increase height, LRTI, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP). For late introduction of CF, there was a lack of evidence from RCTs, but low-certainty evidence from observational studies suggests that late introduction of CF (> 6 months) might decrease height, BMI, and systolic and diastolic BP and might increase odds of intestinal helminth infection, while late introduction of CF (> 8 months) might increase height-for-age z score.
Conclusion: Insufficient evidence does suggest increased adiposity with early introduction of CF. Hence, the current recommendation of introduction of CF should stand, though more robust studies, especially from low- and middle-income settings, are needed.
Systematic review registration: PROSPERO registration number CRD42020218517.

Comments

Volume, issue, and pagination are not provided by the author/publisher.

Publication (Name of Journal)

Nutrition Reviews

Recommended Citation

Padhani, Z. A., Das, J. K., Siddiqui, F. A., Salam, R. A., lassi, z. S., Khan, D. S., Abbasi, A. M., Keats, E. C., Soofi, S., Bhutta, Z. A. (2023). Optimal timing of introduction of complementary feeding: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrition Reviews.
Available at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_women_childhealth_wc/205