The Deuterium Oxide-to-the-Mother Method Documents Adequate Breast-Milk Intake among Sri Lankan Infants

The WHO recommends that exclusive breastfeeding should last up to 6 mo. However, human milk intake of Sri Lankan infants has not been quantified scientifically.

The objectives of this study were to measure the human milk intake of Sri Lankan infants during the first 6 mo of age and to document the breastfeeding practices of their mothers.

Forty-eight healthy mother-infant dyads were randomly recruited for this cross-sectional study at well-baby clinics. Milk intake was measured using the deuterium oxide-to-the-mother technique over a period of 2 wk. Information on breastfeeding practice and living standards of the participants were gathered using an interviewer-administered questionnaire.

Human milk intake was 672 ± 123 g ⋅ d(-1) (mean ± SD), 776 ± 212 g ⋅ d(-1), and 801 ± 51 g ⋅ d(-1) for infants <2 mo, 2 to <4 mo, and 4-6 mo of age, respectively. The milk intakes were not different among the age groups. Maternal body composition, age, or parity had no effects on milk intake of the infants. However, mother's education : P < 0.05, r = 0.35), infant's age (P < 0.05, r = 0.30), and body mass index (P < 0.05, r = 0.41 : positively correlated with the milk intake. Over 63% of mothers had commenced breastfeeding within 30 min of delivery. About 60% of the mothers were feeding the baby 6-10 times during the daytime and >81% intended to continue exclusive breastfeeding until 6 mo of age.

This study, for the first time, documented the adequacy of breast-milk intake among Sri Lankan infants and the nutrition status of the mothers.