Meat as a First Complementary Food for Breastfed Infants: Feasibility and Impact on Zinc Intake and Status

Abstract

Introduction of meat as an early complementary food for exclusively breastfed infants is feasible and was associated with improved zinc intake and potential benefits. The high percentage of infants with biochemical evidence of marginal zinc and iron status suggests that additional investigations of optimal complementary feeding practices for breastfed infants in the United States are warranted.