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Lipid profile of term infants on exclusive breastfeeding and mixed feeding: a comparative study
D Harit1, M M A Faridi, A Aggarwal
1Department of Pediatrics and Biochemistry, University College of Medical Sciences, and Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, Delhi, India.
Insights
Exclusively breastfed infants have higher total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the first six months. However, their high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)/LDL-C ratio improves by six months.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Infant Health
- Lipid Metabolism
Background:
- Infant feeding practices significantly influence early-life health outcomes.
- Understanding lipid profile development in infants is crucial for long-term cardiovascular health.
- Limited data exists comparing lipid profiles between exclusively breastfed and mixed-fed infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the lipid profiles of exclusively breastfed and mixed-fed term healthy infants.
- To assess changes in total cholesterol, LDL-C, and HDL-C/LDL-C ratio up to six months of age.
Main Methods:
- Prospective comparative study involving 400 term healthy infants (200 exclusive breastfeeding, 200 mixed feeding).
- Serum lipid levels (TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides) measured at 14 weeks and 6 months.
- Anthropometric measures recorded; statistical analysis performed using SPSS.
Main Results:
- Exclusively breastfed infants showed significantly higher total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) at 14 weeks and 6 months.
- Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides were elevated in the breastfed group.
- The high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)/LDL-C ratio significantly improved in exclusively breastfed infants by 6 months.
Conclusions:
- Exclusive breastfeeding is associated with higher TC and LDL-C in early infancy.
- Mixed feeding may lead to lower lipid levels but does not show the same improvement in HDL-C/LDL-C ratio.
- Findings highlight distinct lipid profile trajectories based on infant feeding type.
Objectives:
To compare the lipid profiles of exclusively breastfed and mixed-fed term healthy infants in the first 6 months of life.
Design:
Prospective comparative study.
Setting:
Study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital.
Subjects:
Four hundred consecutive term healthy infants, 200 on exclusive breastfeeding (group 1) and 200 receiving mixed feeding (group 2) were recruited at 14 weeks of age. At 6 months, 149 and 150 mother-infant pairs were followed up in groups 1 and 2, respectively.
Methods:
Anthropometric measures of the mother and baby were recorded. Serum lipid levels of the mother and babies were determined at 14 weeks. Babies were followed up till 6 months and their lipid levels were determined again at 6 months. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS.
Results:
Two groups were comparable in birth weight and maternal characteristics (P>0.05). Weight and head circumference were significantly more in the breastfed group at 14 weeks as well as at 6 months (P<0.001). Mean total cholesterol (TC) was 205.27+/-47.31 and 176.55+/-32.01 mg/dl in groups 1 and 2, respectively at 14 weeks (CI=20.77-36.66, P<0.001). At 6 months TC was 192.79+/-40.52 and 161.05+/-22.53 mg/dl in the two groups (CI=24.26-39.22, P<0.001). Change in total cholesterol from 14 weeks to 6 months was also significant in both groups (P<0.001). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides were significantly higher in the breastfed groups at 14 weeks and 6 months. The high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)/LDL-C significantly improved at 6 months in exclusively breastfed group (P=0.045). A positive correlation was found only at 14 weeks between mother's TC and baby's TC (r=0.332), mother's LDL-C with baby's LDL-C (r=0.223) in mixed fed group.
Conclusion:
Breastfed babies have significantly higher TC and LDL-C compared to mixed fed babies in the first 6 months of life with improving HDL-C/LDL-C ratio at 6 months.
Sponsorship:
None.
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