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Evolution and infant feeding.

A E Dugdale

    Lancet (London, England)
    |March 22, 1986
    PubMed
    Summary
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    Evolutionary theory suggests breast milk composition balances infant needs with maternal welfare. Optimal infant feeding involves breastfeeding for several months, supplemented as necessary for infant nutrition.

    Area of Science:

    • Evolutionary Biology
    • Human Physiology
    • Pediatrics

    Background:

    • Darwinian evolution traditionally views infant well-being as paramount.
    • A broader evolutionary perspective considers the mother-child dyad as the unit of selection.
    • This dyad hypothesis posits that evolutionary strategies benefit both mother and offspring.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To re-evaluate the evolutionary basis of breast milk composition.
    • To propose an optimized infant feeding strategy based on evolutionary principles.
    • To differentiate between nutritive and anti-infective properties of breast milk.

    Main Methods:

    • Comparative analysis of evolutionary theory and infant nutrition.
    • Hypothetical modeling of mother-infant resource allocation.
    Keywords:
    Breast FeedingDiseasesFamily PlanningFamily Planning, Behavioral MethodsHealthImmunological EffectsInfant NutritionLactation, ProlongedMaternal NutritionNutritionSupplementary Feeding

    Related Experiment Videos

  • Examination of breast milk components and their effects on mother and infant.

    • Main Results:

    • Evolutionary interests may favor maternal welfare over maximal infant nutrition.
    • Breast milk protein and energy levels may be optimized to spare maternal resources.
    • Anti-infective factors offer significant infant benefit with minimal maternal cost.
    • The contraceptive effect of breastfeeding is linked to maternal nutritional status.

    Conclusions:

    • Breast milk composition reflects a balance between infant survival and maternal health.
    • A combined approach of breastfeeding and supplementary feeding may be evolutionarily rational.
    • This strategy aims to reduce infant morbidity while ensuring adequate infant nutrition and maternal well-being.