[Relationship between breast milk composition and weight growth velocity of infants fed with exclusive breast milk]
Li-Li Huang1, Fei Xiong, Fan Yang
1Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University/Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu 610041, China. xiongfei7922.student@sina.com.
Insights
Lower carbohydrate and mineral levels in breast milk were linked to slower infant weight growth velocity. Maternal diet quality is crucial for optimizing infant growth and development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Human Nutrition
- Infant Growth
Background:
- Infant growth velocity is a key indicator of health.
- Breast milk composition is believed to influence infant development.
- Understanding these links is vital for infant nutrition strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between breast milk composition and infant weight growth velocity.
- To identify specific breast milk components affecting infant growth.
- To inform nutritional guidance for breastfeeding mothers.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 138 exclusively breastfed infants and their mothers.
- Measured infant anthropometrics (height, weight, head circumference) and calculated Z scores for growth velocity.
- Analyzed mature breast milk for protein, fat, energy, carbohydrate, and mineral content.
- Compared milk composition across infant groups categorized by growth velocity (failure to thrive, poor growth, normal).
Main Results:
- Infants in failure to thrive and poor growth groups exhibited lower weight Z score velocities compared to controls.
- No significant differences in breast milk protein, fat, or energy levels were found among groups.
- Lower levels of carbohydrates and minerals in breast milk were observed in infants with failure to thrive and poor growth.
Conclusions:
- Breast milk composition, specifically carbohydrate and mineral content, can impact infant weight growth velocity.
- Maternal dietary balance is essential for producing nutrient-rich breast milk.
- Maintaining adequate breast milk quality supports optimal infant growth trajectories.
Objective:
To study the effect of breast milk composition on weight growth velocity of infants fed with exclusive breast milk.
Methods:
One hundred and thirty-eight full-term singleton infants who received regular follow-up visits and fed with exclusive breast milk and their mothers were recruited. Body height, weight and head circumference of these infants were measured at regular visits. Z scores were used to evaluate growth velocity. The subjects were classified into a failure to thrive group (ΔZ scores≤-0.67), a poor growth group (-0.67<ΔZ scores<0) and a normal control group (ΔZ scores≥0). The samples of mature breast milk were collected for composition analysis. The differences in the levels of the protein, fats, energy, carbohydrates and minerals in breast milk were compared among the three groups.
Results:
ΔZ scores for weight in the failure to thrive and poor growth groups were lower than in the normal control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the levels of protein, fats and energy in breast milk among the failure to thrive, poor growth and normal control groups. However, the levels of carbohydrates and minerals in both the failure to thrive and poor growth groups were lower than in the normal control group (P<0.05).
Conclusions:
Weight growth velocity of infants can be affected by the composition of breast milk to a certain degree in a short period. In order to maintain a good weight growth velocity of infants, mothers should have a balanced diet to improve the quality of breast milk.
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