Estimation of Iodine and Chromium Intakes from Commercial Baby Foods

Abstract

To estimate iodine and chromium intake in Japanese infants dependent on commercial baby food and human milk, 53 commercial baby food samples (24 samples for ≥ 7-month-old baby and 29 samples for ≥ 9-month-old baby) were collected and their iodine and chromium concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The iodine concentrations were markedly elevated by the use of kombu or hijiki and their medians (25-75 percentile) in baby food for a ≥ 7-month-old baby and a ≥ 9-month-old baby were 30 (21-103) and 42 (27-1045) ng/g wet weight, respectively. Mean iodine intake by 6 to 8-month-old babies and 9 to 11-month-babies was estimated to be 144 and 691 μg/d, respectively although their medians were estimated to be 89 and 84 μg/d, respectively. On the other hand, chromium concentrations (median (25-75 percentile)) in baby foods for a ≥ 7-month-old baby and a ≥ 9-month-old baby were 12 (7-12) and 10 (7-16) ng/g wet weight, respectively. Mean chromium intake by 6 to 8-month-old babies and 9 to 11-month-babies was estimated to be 8 and 10 μg/d, which were about 10 times higher than the value shown as the Adequate Intake in the Dietary Reference Intakes for Japanese. These results indicate that intermittent high-iodine baby food ensures sufficient iodine intake, and chromium intake is increased in Japanese infants after beginning to eat baby food.