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[Lactation and growth in the first trimester of life]
A Ramada Benedito1, L A García Llop, P Rodríguez-Estecha
1Centro de Salud, Jaraíz de la Vera, Cáceres.
Insights
Breastfeeding offers significant short-term benefits for infant growth, including improved weight and length in the first month. However, these advantages diminish by the first quarter of life, suggesting a need for continued nutritional support.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
- Child Growth and Development
Background:
- Breastfeeding is widely recognized for its health benefits to infants.
- Understanding the anthropometric impact of feeding methods is crucial for child development.
- Previous studies suggest varying effects of breastfeeding on infant growth parameters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare anthropometric parameters between breast-fed and artificially-fed infants.
- To evaluate the short-term effects of breastfeeding on infant weight, length, and body composition.
Main Methods:
- Anthropometric measurements (weight, length, BMI, skinfolds) were taken at birth, 1 month, and 3 months.
- A cohort of 170 breast-fed and 149 artificially-fed infants was studied.
- Statistical analysis was performed to compare groups (p-values reported).
Main Results:
- Breastfed infants showed significantly better weight (p<0.001), length (p<0.05), BMI (p<0.01), and subscapular/suprailiac skinfolds (p<0.01, p<0.05) at 1 month.
- The beneficial effects observed at 1 month were not sustained by the 3-month mark.
- The sum of four skinfolds also showed a significant advantage for breastfed infants at 1 month (p<0.05).
Conclusions:
- Breastfeeding confers a significant, albeit temporary, advantage in early infant growth and body composition.
- The nutritional value and potential reduction in infections associated with breastfeeding may explain these early benefits.
- These effects are less pronounced in developed countries, possibly due to improved artificial feeding and healthcare.
Abstract:
It has been studied the antropometrical parameters (weight, length, corporal mass index, biceps skinfold, triceps, subscapula and suprailiaca) in 170 children breast-fed and in 149 artificial-fed at birth, one month and the three months time life. At the first month of life it is observed a beneficial effect of the breast-fed above the artificial one in weight (p less than 0.001), length (p less than 0.05), corporal mass index (p less than 0.01), subscapula fold (p less than 0.01), suprailiaca fold (p less than 0.05) and sum of four folds (p less than 0.05), which disapprove at the first quarter of life. It could be suggested that breast-feeding has an effect on the children rising and growth because of its nutritional value and the decrease of infections, although in developed countries these facts are less demonstrable.