United Nations System
Standing Committee on Nutrition

 

Report of the Sub-Committee on Nutrition at its Twenty-Fifth Session

II.  Work in Progress:  Summary of Discussion and Conclusions

E. A New International Growth Reference for Infants and Young Children

67.  A joint WHO/UNU project to develop a new international growth reference for infants and young children was presented by WHO and UNU. This new reference will reflect physiologic growth patterns for all children. The new reference will be based on breastfed children because of:

  • the increasing recognition of the benefits of breastfeeding;
  • repeated documentation of the negative deviations in growth of  healthy breastfed infants when the existing reference is used to assess growth;
  • concern that perceived negative deviations of growth lead to the premature introduction of complementary feeding;
  • premature introduction of complementary foods is likely to have adverse consequences.

68.  The protocol used in this study deviates considerably from past efforts in that it is  prescriptive rather than descriptive and the pooled sample will represent wide geographical and ethnic composition.  A "healthy" population was defined as having optimal nutrition, environment, and health care resulting in optimal growth and health. It was underscored that optimal growth is not necessarily equivalent to maximal growth.

69.  This is a large multi-center study with a complex protocol and a budget of about $6 million.  A strong breastfeeding support component will be put in place at each site to minimize drop-outs; compliance with feeding recommendations will be monitored carefully.  The study has started in Brazil and will begin at other sites during 1998. It will take four years to complete the study.

70.  A number of additional benefits of the study were highlighted.  These include:

  • additional references for attained growth and velocity of growth than those available at present;
  • reference data for BMI for lactating mothers;
  • isotope techniques to determine nutrient requirements (in collaboration with IAEA);
  • strategy for promoting healthy growth and development.

71. The meeting congratulated WHO and UNU on taking on this important and much-needed work. It was stressed by several members that full funding for this project is crucial.  Donors were invited to discuss their interest in supporting this project with WHO and UNU.