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Heart rates of breast-fed and formula-fed infants
N F Butte1, E O Smith, C Garza
1U.S. Department of Agriculture/Agriculture Research Service (USDA/ARS) Children's Nutrition Research Center, Houston, TX 77030.
Insights
Infant heart rates are lower at four months than at one month. Breast-fed infants exhibit lower heart rates than formula-fed infants, with feeding mode significantly impacting heart rate variability.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infant physiology
- Nutrition science
Background:
- Infant heart rate is a critical physiological parameter.
- Understanding factors influencing infant heart rate is essential for assessing well-being.
- Feeding mode (breast milk vs. formula) may impact infant cardiovascular regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of feeding mode and age on infant heart rate.
- To determine the correlation between heart rate and energy intake, sleeping metabolic rate, and total daily energy expenditure.
Main Methods:
- Continuous heart rate monitoring for approximately 18 hours in 46 infants.
- Infants were assessed at 1 and 4 months of age.
- Data analysis included comparisons based on age and feeding mode.
Main Results:
- Heart rate significantly decreased with age (1 month > 4 months; p < 0.001).
- Breast-fed infants had significantly lower heart rates than formula-fed infants (p < 0.001).
- Feeding mode, sex, and age explained approximately 58% of heart rate variability; energy intake correlated with heart rate but did not explain additional variability.
Conclusions:
- Age and feeding mode are significant determinants of infant heart rate.
- Breastfeeding is associated with lower heart rates compared to formula feeding in infants.
- While energy intake correlates with heart rate, feeding mode and age are primary drivers of observed heart rate patterns.
Abstract:
Heart rates of 46 breast-fed and formula-fed infants were monitored continuously for approximately 18 h at 1 or 4 months of age. Heart rate differed significantly by age (1 month greater than 4 months; p less than 0.001) and feeding mode (breast-fed less than formula-fed; p less than 0.001). Approximately 58% of the variability in heart rate could be attributed to feeding mode, sex, and age. Heart rate was correlated significantly with energy intake (r = 0.60; p less than 0.001), but not sleeping metabolic rate or total daily energy expenditure. Energy intake accounted for none of the variability in heart rate beyond that explained by feeding mode, sex, and age.