A comparison of the growth patterns of Chinese infants in Chengdu and Hong Kong: 0-2 years

Infant diet and type 1 diabetes in China

Infant milk and food introduction may be linked to type 1 diabetes risk in high incidence populations. Dietary data through age 12 months was collected for 247 type 1 diabetic cases and 443 controls in China, a low incidence population, to determine if milk and solid food intake differed. Age range at introduction to milk and formulas was similar in cases and controls but solid food introduction more often occurred before age 3 months in cases. Logistic regression analyses showed soy milk formula consumption at 4-6 (OR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.1-3.4) and 7-12 months of age (OR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.0-2.1) was associated with a twofold higher risk of type 1 diabetes, while steamed bread consumption (4-6 months, OR = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.28-0.68; 7-12 months, OR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.34-0.69) and higher SES (4-6 months, OR = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.39-0.78; 7-12 months, OR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.40-0.83) were negatively associated. Drinking cow's milk at 7-12 months (OR = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.43-0.85) was negatively associated with type 1 diabetes while consuming vegetables at 4-6 months (OR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.0-2.2) was positively associated. Results suggest that infant milk and solid food intake are associated with type 1 diabetes in China. Prospective studies may determine how these dietary factors impact disease etiology, particularly for at-risk-populations.

Growth of infants during the first 18 months of life in urban and rural areas of southern China

OBJECTIVE

Observe the growth pattern of infants from birth to 18 months.

METHODOLOGY

A prospective study was conducted from 1994 to 1996 in urban and township-rural areas of Guangdong Province, southern China, recruiting 568 and 257 newborn infants, respectively. Anthropometric data was collected at birth, 1.5, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, and 18 months.

RESULTS

The urban infants at birth had Z-scores of weight for age (WAZ), height for age (HAZ) and weight for height (WHZ) below the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) median (P < 0.01). However, from 1.5 to 4 months, the WAZ and WHZ scores were above (P < 0.01), but by 7 months fell and remained at - 0.7 to - 0.8 SD below the NCHS median (P < 0.01). HAZ scores improved after birth, were at the NCHS median to 8 months (P = NS), and then decreased to 0.2-0.4 SD below the NCHS median (P < 0.01). Compared with the urban infants, the township-rural infants were lighter and shorter throughout the first 18 months of life, and from 8 months of age, were - 1 SD or more below the NCHS median.

CONCLUSIONS

Growth retardation was found in this sample of Chinese infants. The magnitude of growth retardation was greater for infants in the township-rural area compared with those in the urban area.

Growth of immigrant Chinese infants in the first year of life

PURPOSE

To understand the growth patterns of Chinese-American infants from birth to 1 year old.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort design comparing the growth patterns of 163 Chinese infants living in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and 158 Chinese infants living in Taipei, Taiwan. All infants were born at full-term, without major medical illnesses.

RESULTS

Chinese-American infants were significantly heavier and longer than Taiwanese infants for all age groups and for both genders. Chinese-American infants were born at average weights, rose to the 70th to 80th percentile between 2 and 6 months, and declined to the 50th percentile or less at 9 to 12 months (when measured by American growth charts). When these infants' lengths and weights are plotted on Taiwan's growth curves, no such fluctuations were seen.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Our findings suggest that rapid weight gain in Chinese-American infants in the first 6 months after birth can be expected, and may then lessen. By the first year, on average, these infants' weights will be < 50th percentile using the American National Center for Health Statistics growth standard. These findings can reassure health providers and help them to provide sound nutritional recommendations and counselling to parents.

Weight and length growth of two Chinese infant groups and the seasonal effects on their growth

This is a longitudinal study involving 202 Chinese infants in Chengdu City and 174 Hong Kong infants in their first two years of life. Their weight and length growth are compared, and the seasonal effects on the early age growth for the two groups are illustrated by using a multilevel model approach. The Chengdu infants are found to grow faster in the first 10 months, then stay longer, heavier and fatter for the rest of the study period. The seasonal effect on weight growth for the two groups is the same with the fastest growth in winter and slowest in summer and with a mean difference of about 0.16 kg. For length the fastest is in summer for Chengdu infants but in winter for Hong Kong infants. The difference between the slowest and fastest is about 0.49 cm for the two groups. The approach used in the paper is discussed from a practical viewpoint. The reasons for the growth differences between the two groups of Chinese infants are also discussed.