Le sel : vigilance dans la première année de vie*

For infants, sodium recommended dietary allowances are low. The influence of sodium intake on young children's blood pressure has been shown contradictory. Sodium intake increases as children get older from 2 months, 5 months, 9 months, 12 months. This is especially influenced by complementary foods. Moreover, sodium intake can also vary by a factor of 2 at any time period, depending on food choice, i.e. milk formula, baby's food and even usual family's food. In addition no benefit is expected from a high level sodium intake; an excessive sodium intake is often linked in toddler's food to an excess intake of protein and saturated fatty acids. That's why it seems safer to limit sodium level consumption. Therefore nutritional information has to be organised for mothers and caregivers in maternity wards and in day care centers to promote healthy food habits in early childhood.