Lactation performance of rural Mesoamerindians

Area of Science:

• Human Lactation and Nutrition
• Maternal and Infant Health
• Anthropometry and Body Composition

Background:

• Understanding factors affecting human milk production and composition is crucial for infant growth, especially in diverse populations.
• Previous research often focuses on economically privileged groups, leaving gaps in knowledge for indigenous communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify maternal anthropometric and dietary factors influencing lactation performance in Otomi Indian women.
• To assess the relationship between maternal body composition, dietary intake, and human milk production and quality.

Main Methods:

• Studied 30 lactating Otomi Indian women in Mexico, measuring anthropometry, body composition, and dietary intake at 4 and 6 months postpartum.
• Utilized the 2H2O dose-to-mother method to estimate milk production and maternal total body water (TBW).
• Analyzed human milk for energy, nitrogen, lactose, and fat; assessed maternal diet via 24-hour recalls.

Main Results:

• Mean milk production was approximately 870-885 g/d. Milk fat and energy concentrations were lower than in privileged populations.
• Maternal milk production was negatively correlated with maternal body fat (P=0.006).
• Milk energy and fat concentrations positively correlated with maternal weight, BMI, and body fat, but not significantly with milk production rate or maternal dietary intake.

Conclusions:

• Lactation performance in this Otomi population is significantly associated with maternal body size and composition.
• Current maternal dietary intake did not appear to be a primary determinant of milk production or composition.
• Maternal body fat reserves play a key role in regulating milk production and nutrient content.