American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 22, 1571-1576, Copyright © 1969 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Use of Fish Protein Concentrate in the Diets of Weanling Infants

A Study of 88 Infants from a Low Socioeconomic Population, Casablanca, Morocco

¹ Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
² Director of Medical Services, American Joint Distribution Committee, Geneva, Switzerland

Vegetable puree and cereal dishes enriched with FPC produced in Morocco were fed to a test group of infants for a 6-month period. A 3% concentration of FPC (w/w) in the food as consumed represented the maximum acceptance level. The limiting factor in determining acceptance was the mothers' attitudes to FPC rather than the infants' reactions. Three percent concentration of FPC in two meals provided just over 10 g of FPC daily per infant. Together with the vegetable protein derived from the local cereal and vegetable-weaning dishes, this yielded the equivalent of 13.2 g of reference protein, which more than fulfilled the FAO standard of 12.6 g recommended for the weanling age group. Observations of the weight and length gains in the test group of infants compared with a control group did not show any statistical difference. The test group of infants did not manifest signs of gastrointestinal intolerance to FPC as evidenced by frequency of vomiting attacks and bowel movements, compared with the controls.