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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Influence des pratiques d’allaitement et de diversification sur l’acceptation de flaveurs nouvelles chez le jeune enfant : variabilité intra- et inter-régionale

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This thesis covers three separate but related studies. The first, a questionnaire survey of infant feeding practices in two nearby European regions (Dijon, France and Aalen, Germany) reports between- and withinregion differences in breastfeeding duration and variety of vegetables offered early in weaning. This survey identified the level and rate of vegetable variety and the specific foods to use in a second study. The 2nd study examined the effects of breast- or formula-feeding and different levels of vegetable variety (no, low or high) early in weaning on acceptance (intake and liking) of new foods. The foods were: (1) a first new vegetable offered immediately after the intervention; (2) a second new vegetable 11 days later and, several weeks later, (3) the first meat and (4) the first fish. Breastfeeding facilitated acceptance of the first new vegetable in both regions and of all new foods in Aalen. Exposure to high variety early in weaning increased acceptance of all new vegetables and of meat and fish in Dijon. Frequency of change in vegetables (high variety) was more effective than number of vegetables offered (low variety) and the combination of breastfeeding and early variety experience was most effective in increasing acceptance of new foods. Liking and intake showed similar patterns in Aalen, but not in Dijon. Increased acceptance of new foods linked to high variety experience early in weaning persisted into subsequent home exposure. The third study measured the effects of repeated exposure to an initially disliked vegetable on infants’ acceptance of that vegetable. The initially disliked vegetable and a well-liked vegetable were offered on alternate days for 16 days. Intake and liking of the initially disliked vegetable increased rapidly and, after 7-8 exposures, acceptance of the two vegetables (liked and disliked) was practically identical. The increased acceptance seems to be long lasting because, nine months later, most of the infants were still eating and liking the initially disliked vegetable. These results underline the importance of early sensory experiences on acceptance of new foods during the first months of weaning and their possible long-term effects. They suggest that the effect of early exposure to variety depends on the specific foods tested and on local feeding practices.