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 The authors of the report describe an infant in Spain who was fed
only almond beverages or almond flour-based formulations from age
two months to 11 months and developed fractures and failure to
thrive due to scurvy.
Scurvy is a serious condition caused by lack of vitamin C in the
diet. Once the scourge of sailors who did not have access to sources
of vitamin C during many months at sea, scurvy is rare today.
Dr. Isidro Vitoria of the Hospital Universitario y Politecnico La Fe
in Valencia, Spain, and coauthors report the case of a male baby who
was born at term, vaccinated according to Spanish guidelines, and
fed with a cow’s milk based formula for the first two and a half
months of life.
When he developed skin inflammation, a medical doctor recommended he
be switched to daily intake of a prepared mixture including almond
drink, almond flour, sesame powder, brown rice malt, brown rice,
millet and a sachet of probiotics and prebiotics marketed in Spain.
From age six months onward, his mother offered him pureed fruits and
vegetables that he would not eat.
At 11 months of age, the baby was tired, irritable, had failed to
thrive and refused to support his legs on a solid surface, crying
even when an adult moved his legs for him.
He had abnormal levels of zinc, vitamin D, thyroid stimulating
hormone and ascorbic acid, or vitamin C.
X-rays revealed fractures in his legs and back and thinning bones.
The almond formula was stopped and replaced with infant formula,
cereals, meat, fruits and vegetables supplemented with vitamin C and
D replacement therapy. One month later his x-rays had improved. Soon
afterward, his vitamin C and D levels had normalized.
Two months after stopping the almond formula he started walking, the
authors reported in Pediatrics.
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In the first year of life, babies should consume 50 to 60 milligrams
of vitamin C every day, the authors say. On average, 8 ounces (240
ml) of breast milk contains about 11 milligrams of vitamin C. Infant
formulas should contain 10 to 30 milligrams per 100 calorie serving,
the authors write.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants be
exclusively breastfed for about the first six months of life, and
then solid foods can be introduced.
Fruits like oranges, strawberries and kiwis are also good sources of
vitamin C.
When almond beverages are processed, some vitamins, including
vitamin C, lose their biological activity, the authors note.
Although some such beverages in Spain are fortified with vitamins
and nutrients, the particular formula this baby received was
deficient in vitamin C, D, calcium, iron and zinc.
“Pediatricians and parents should be aware that plant-based
beverages are not a complete food and they may not replace
breastfeeding or infant formula,” the authors write.
The authors did not respond to a request for comment by deadline.
SOURCE: http://bit.ly/1PbDdgV Pediatrics, online January 18, 2016.
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