European journal of clinical nutrition
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A mixed-longitudinal study was carried out in the 1985 Dutch birth cohort of macrobiotic infants aged 4-18 months (n = 53) and 57 omnivorous control infants matched for month of birth, sex, parity, educational level of the father and the residential area. Study methods included regular anthropometric measurements and a psychomotor testing. Reported birth weight was 180 g lower in the macrobiotic group than in the control group and was positively associated with maternal weight increase during pregnancy. ⋯ The paediatrician observed major wasting of skin and muscles in 30 per cent of them. The growth rate for weight and arm circumference was independently associated with the energy intake and the protein content of the macrobiotic diet. Growth in length was positively associated with protein content of the diet, but not with energy intake.
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Information on food intake during weaning was collected as part of a mixed-longitudinal study on the nutritional status and growth of the 1985 Dutch birth cohort of infants on macrobiotic diets (n = 53) and a matched control group on omnivorous diets (m = 57). Weighed food records over 3d, including breast-milk, were obtained on 49 macrobiotic and 57 control infants at 2-monthly intervals between the ages of 6 and 16 months. Intake of energy and nutrients was calculated using the Dutch food composition table which was supplemented by our own analyses of 50 macrobiotic foods. ⋯ Calcium intake was 280 mg/d; correction for calcium derived from hard tap-water raised the calcium intake to 308 mg in the macrobiotic age group of 14 months. The evidence of biochemical deficiencies of iron, riboflavin, vitamin B12, vitamin D and calcium is discussed. It is suggested that the macrobiotic diet should be supplemented with fat, fatty fish and dairy products.