Indrio Flavia, El Beleidy Ahmed, Adel Ashraf, Al Enazi Badi, Bouziane Nedjadi Karim, Al Khalaf Hamad, Kamal Naglaa M, Ayesh Wafaa, El Gendy Yasmin Gamal Abdo, El Baroudy Eslam
Department of Experimental Medicine Pediatric Section, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy.
Department of Pediatrics, University of Cairo (Cairo University Children's Hospital), Cairo, Egypt.
Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol Nutr. 2025 Jul;28(4):201-214. doi: 10.5223/pghn.2025.28.4.201. Epub 2025 Jul 7.
Optimal nutrition during infancy and early childhood is crucial for promoting lifelong health and well-being. Complementary feeding is a crucial phase in the nutritional journey of growing babies, as their nutritional requirements begin to surpass those provided by breast milk at approximately 4-6 months of age. While a nutritional gap, notably iron deficiency, is prevalent in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, optimal complementary feeding practices and fortified food items such as iron-fortified infant cereals can help bridge this gap and achieve nutritional targets. Healthcare professionals play a pivotal role in providing expert guidance and support to parents during this crucial stage of development. However, the MENA region, with its diverse populations and varied weaning practices in different cultures, lacks unified guidelines specific to the region. This consensus is intended to serve as a foundation for pediatricians and primary care physicians in the MENA region to advise parents and caregivers about optimal complementary feeding practices.
婴儿期和幼儿期的最佳营养对促进终身健康和幸福至关重要。辅食添加是成长中婴儿营养历程的关键阶段，因为大约在4至6个月大时，他们的营养需求开始超过母乳所能提供的量。虽然中东和北非（MENA）地区普遍存在营养缺口，尤其是缺铁现象，但最佳的辅食添加做法以及强化食品，如铁强化婴儿谷物，可以帮助弥补这一缺口并实现营养目标。在这一关键发育阶段，医疗保健专业人员在为家长提供专业指导和支持方面发挥着关键作用。然而，中东和北非地区人口多样，不同文化中的断奶做法各异，缺乏该地区特有的统一指南。本共识旨在为中东和北非地区的儿科医生和初级保健医生为家长和照顾者提供关于最佳辅食添加做法的建议奠定基础。
