CoFI - Consensus on Infant Formulas: The Opinion of Portuguese Experts on Their Composition and Indications

Authors

  • Carla Rêgo Centro da Criança e do Adolescente. Hospital CUF. Porto. Center for Research in Health Technologies and Services – CINTESIS. Faculdade de Medicina. Universidade do Porto. Porto. Centre of Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry. Escola Superior de Biotecnologia do Porto. Universidade Católica Portuguesa. Porto.
  • Luís Pereira-da-Silva Medicina da Mulher, da Infância e da Adolescência. NOVA Medical School. Faculdade de Ciências Médicas. Universidade NOVA de Lisboa. Lisboa. Área da Mulher, da Criança e do Adolescente. Hospital Dona Estefânia. Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central. Lisboa. Dietética e Nutrição. Escola Superior de Tecnologias da Saúde de Lisboa. Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa. Lisboa.
  • Ricardo Ferreira Hospital Pediátrico de Coimbra. Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra. Coimbra.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.10620

Keywords:

Consensus, Delphi Technique, Infant Formula

Abstract

Introduction: Breastfeeding has unique health benefits. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended during the first six months of life and should be maintained during complementary feeding. Alternatively, infant formulas, which are designed to mimic human breastmilk to promote similar metabolic and growth profiles, can be used. This study aimed to assess the opinion of Portuguese paediatricians with expertise in nutrition on the composition, benefits and indications of commercialised infant formulas.

Material and Methods: A survey based on the Delphi method with application of a questionnaire developed by a scientific committee was issued to a panel of paediatricians with expertise in nutrition. An initial questionnaire that included 65 items covering 11 areas was administered in two rounds.

Results: Twenty-one experts participated, and the final response rate was 87.5%. The panel was in agreement in 68.3% of the enquired items, namely that infant formulas should be used only when breastfeeding is not possible. Notwithstanding, the opinion of the panel was heterogeneous on a number of issues, particularly those related to the advantages and indications of ‘special’ or modified infant formulas (partially hydrolysed formulas and anti-colic, anti-constipation and anti-regurgitation formulas) and of young child formulas (‘growing-up formulas’).

Discussion: A wide consensus was recorded on the nutritional quality, food safety and indications attributed to commercialized infant formulas.

Conclusion: The opinion of Portuguese experts was consensual in most of the enquired topics. The absence of consensus was mostly related to issues that remain under debate in the literature and lack robust scientific evidence.

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Author Biography

Carla Rêgo, Centro da Criança e do Adolescente. Hospital CUF. Porto. Center for Research in Health Technologies and Services – CINTESIS. Faculdade de Medicina. Universidade do Porto. Porto. Centre of Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry. Escola Superior de Biotecnologia do Porto. Universidade Católica Portuguesa. Porto.

Nasceu na cidade de Beira – Moçambique a 13 de Julho de 1960. Licenciada em Medicina pela Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto (FMUP), é especialista em Pediatria com Grau de Consultor. Tem Mestrado em Medicina Desportiva (1994) e Doutoramento em Medicina (Pediatria) (2008) na área da obesidade pediátrica e comorbilidade cardiometabólica, ambos pela FMUP. Desempenhando actualmente funções clínicas no Centro da Criança e do Adolescente do Hospital CUF Porto (CCA – HCUF Porto), coordena a consulta multidisciplinar de obesidade pediátrica. É Professora de Pediatria da FMUP e regente da disciplina de Nutrição Pediátrica da Escola Superior de Biotecnologia da Universidade Católica Portuguesa. É investigadora do Center for Research in Health Techonologies and Information (CINTESIS) da FMUP. Em 1998, foi responsável pela criação da 1ª consulta de referência em obesidade pediátrica em Portugal, no Hospital de S. João – Porto. Foi membro da Comissão Científica da Plataforma Contra a Obesidade. É autora de inúmeros trabalhos apresentados em reuniões nacionais e internacionais, de artigos científicos em revistas indexadas bem como de capítulos e prefácios de livros científicos. Publicou, em co-autoria, um livro sobre obesidade pediátrica destinado ao público em geral. Coordenou o EPACI Portugal 2012 – Estudo do Padrão Alimentar e de Crescimento na Infância. Foi Presidente da Comissão Organizadora da European Childhood Obesity Group (ECOG) Anual Meeting – Porto 2008 e foi nomeada Presidente da European Childhood Obesity Group (ECOG) Anual Meeting – Porto 2018. É membro de várias sociedades científicas nacionais e internacionais, sendo fundadora e Presidente do Grupo Nacional para o Estudo e Investigação da Obesidade Pediátrica (GNEIOP). É ainda Presidente da Health4Mozambican Children and Families, O.N.G.D.

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Published

2018-12-28

How to Cite

1.
Rêgo C, Pereira-da-Silva L, Ferreira R. CoFI - Consensus on Infant Formulas: The Opinion of Portuguese Experts on Their Composition and Indications. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2018 Dec. 28 [cited 2024 Nov. 22];31(12):754-65. Available from: https://actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/10620

Issue

Vol. 31 No. 12 (2018): December

Section

Original

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