Nutrition in Special

Age Groups

Lec 11
Prof Sonia A Habib
Nutritional Supplements for Lactating Women:

Calories: 2500 cal/day are needed to produce milk in

first 6 month. They can be increased to 3300 if no
increase in weight took places during pregnancy.
Fluids: 2-3 L of fluid daily. Usually women are urged
to drink a glass of water every time baby nurses.
Vitamins and Minerals:
Calcium.
Vitamin D.
Vitamin B12.
Iron supplements.
Avoid alcohol, caffeine, food of flavors: e.g., garlic,
onion.
Avoid medications which excreted in milk.
Nutrition of Infants:
 Weaning and introduction of other foods

should begin as early as end of 3 month to 4

months by giving apple juice then orange
juice (not fruit drinks).

 Byend of 4 m. and beginning of 5 month

introduce cereals and yoghurt bananas, apple
puree.

 Ageof 6 month start to introduce vegetable

soups, eggs and yolk, washed potatoes,
sweet potatoes, light pudding.
 Age of 7 month and 8 month try to introduce minced
chicken breast to vegetable soap, cereal with iron
and fruits, egg yolk.
 Age of 9 months lean white meat in vegetable soup

or liver .
 By 10-12 month infant receives 3 meals subsided by

morning and before bed milk.

 Cow milk preferably not to be introduced till 12

months. It can cause occult blood loss (due to

allergic response to protein).
 Whole full cream milk best not be used until age of

2 years.
 Infants with special conditions needs modification of

normal feeding, e.g. Cleft palate, phenyl ketonuria,

pyloric stenosis, … etc.
Nutrition for Children (2-12):

 It is essential to give food essentials (the

basic nutrient groups) special high protein
intake to promote growth

 adjust calories and fast intake to the

recommended dietary intake). Avoid excess
calorie or fat if activity is minimal.

 Excess vitamins (though vitamins and

minerals supplements is beneficial) may
provoke or initiate premature puberty.
 Avoid excess weight gain from fruit food taken as
snacks, excessive carbonated water or sweeteners

 Guard against dental caries which on contrary

may lead to decreased nutrition and loss of
weight.

 Adolescent age group needs dietary adjustment

to dietary requirements with recommended
exercise activity to promote healthy posture and
minimize possibility of overweight or delayed
puberty.
 
Geriatric Nutrition:

 Obesity is a serious problem in old age as it

increases risk of CHD. A flexible regimen with
sweet and fat restriction is preferred and
more compliable than strict regimen.
 Social isolation may lead social complications

either anorexia and loss of weight or

increased feeding and consequently obesity.
 Alzheimer’s Disease: Risk factors may be

similar to those of CHD.

 The problem is that patient may forget to eat
(loss of weight) or forgets that he ate so eats
several times hence overweight occurs.

 Longterm care: Those who needs care for long

time, bed ridden are problematic due to presence
of other chronic disease, e.g., CHD,
hypertension, or diabetes that necessitates
restrictive diet.
 Also, psychological problems may lead to poor

diet compliance. Try to help and give

psycholological care and encourage
independence of eating. Try to give patient
preferable food to encourage eating.