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[Constipation in infants: influence of type of feeding and dietary fiber intake]
Andrea Nogueira de Campos Aguirre1, Márcia Regina Vítolo, Rosana Fiorini Puccini
1Nutrição, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, SP. andrea.aguirre@utp.br
Insights
Breast-feeding protects infants from constipation, while artificial feeding increases risk. Dietary fiber intake did not significantly differ between constipated and non-constipated infants in this study.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutrition Science
- Gastroenterology
Context:
- Infant constipation is a common concern in primary care settings.
- Feeding practices, including breast-feeding and artificial feeding, are potential factors influencing infant bowel habits.
- Dietary fiber intake is often considered a key element in managing constipation.
Purpose:
- To investigate the association between breast-feeding, dietary fiber intake, and constipation in infants.
- To compare constipation prevalence across different infant feeding patterns.
- To determine the role of dietary fiber in infant constipation.
Summary:
- Constipation affected 25.1% of the 275 infants studied, with higher prevalence in infants aged 6-24 months compared to those under 6 months.
- Infants on artificial feeding were 4.53 times more likely to develop constipation than predominantly breastfed infants.
- No significant difference in daily dietary fiber intake was observed between constipated and non-constipated infants.
Impact:
- Breast-feeding is identified as a protective factor against constipation in infants, particularly within the first six months of life.
- Findings suggest that focusing on breast-feeding support may be crucial for preventing infant constipation.
- The study highlights that dietary fiber intake alone may not be the primary determinant of constipation in this infant population.
Objective:
To study the relationship between breast-feeding, dietary fiber intake and constipation in infants.
Methods:
The study population consisted of 275 infants consecutively enrolled in two Primary Care Clinic in the city of Embu, in the Great São Paulo. The feeding pattern were classified in predominantly breast-feeding, partially breast and cow's milk feeding and artificial feeding. Constipation was defined by the elimination of hard stool associated with one of the following: painful or difficult defecation, hard or round cracked stools and less than three defecations a week. False constipation was defined by the elimination of soft stools without pain or difficulty but with less than three defecations a week.
Results:
Constipation was found in 25.1% (69/275). False constipation was found only in the first semester of life in 5.1% of 159 infants. The prevalence of constipation was higher between 6 and 24 months (38.8%, 45/116) than in the first semester of life (15.1%, p=0.000). A model of logistic regression demonstrated that infants under artificial feeding were 4.53 times more liable to develop constipation than infants who were predominantly breastfed. The daily dietary fiber intake (g/day) was similar (p=0.57) among the constipated (median=9.0 g; 25th and 75th percentiles: 6.9-13.1 g) and non-constipated (median=8.8 g; 25th and 75th percentiles: 6.1-12.9 g).
Conclusions:
Dietary fiber intake was similar in constipated and non-constipated infants. Breast-feeding serves as a protection factor against the development of constipation in the first semester of life.
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