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Growth faltering is prevented by breast-feeding in underprivileged infants from Mexico City
S Villalpando1, M López-Alarcón
1Unidad de Investigación Médica en Nutrición, Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico, D.F.
Insights
Breast-feeding protects infants in challenging environments from stunted growth by reducing infections. Breast-fed infants showed better weight and length outcomes by six months compared to formula-fed infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Infant Growth and Development
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Background:
- Infants in unfavorable environments are susceptible to growth stunting due to infections.
- The protective role of breast-feeding against infections and subsequent growth faltering requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if breast-feeding protects infants from growth stunting in adverse settings by preventing acute infections.
- To analyze the relationship between feeding mode, morbidity, and infant growth parameters.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 170 healthy infants from birth to 6 months.
- Regular assessment of body weight, length, feeding practices, and morbidity (e.g., diarrhea).
- Statistical analysis correlating growth increments with infection episodes, lactation duration, and socioeconomic status.
Main Results:
- Breast-fed infants were heavier and tended to be taller at 6 months compared to formula-fed infants.
- Breast-fed infants' weight reached NCHS standards by 6 months, while formula-fed infants showed negative Z-scores.
- Reduced infections and longer lactation duration were positively associated with weight gain; infections negatively impacted length gain.
Conclusions:
- Breast-feeding positively influences infant growth performance, primarily by averting infections.
- Breast-feeding may also enhance nutrient intake during illness episodes, further supporting growth.
- Preventing infections is crucial for optimal infant weight and length attainment, especially in vulnerable populations.
Abstract:
This study was designed to test whether breast-feeding protects infants reared in unfavorable environments from growth-stunting by averting acute infections. The body weight and length, feeding mode and morbidity of 170 healthy infants were assessed at 15-d intervals from birth to 6 mo. Birth weight and length were not different between groups, but at 6 mo, breast-fed infants were heavier and tended to be taller (P = 0.1) than infants fed formula. Relative to NCHS values, infants had lower mean birth weights than a sample of American and European BF infants. At 6 mo, the weight of BF infants caught up to the weight of NCHS standards, while infants fed formula fell to around -1 NCHS-Z-score for weight and length. The cumulative 6-mo weight increments were negatively related to the number of episodes of diarrhea, and positively to duration of lactation (P = 0.03, R(2) = 0.17). The 6-mo length gain was negatively related to infections but not to duration of lactation (P = 0.004, R(2) = 0.19). Never-ill infants attained a better weight (P = 0.04) and length (P = 0.02) than infants who suffered one or more episodes of diarrhea. Weight and length gain of infants suffering at least one episode of diarrhea was positively related to breast-feeding and socioeconomic status. Weight increments of 15-d were positively related to breast-feeding and negatively to the introduction of solids. In conclusion, breast-feeding positively affected the growth performance of the recipient infants by averting infections and possibly by improving nutrient intake during infections.