Bariatric Surgery Does Not Appear to Affect Women's Breast-Milk Composition

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Nutritional Science
• Lactation Biology

Background:

• The composition of breast milk in the initial six weeks postpartum for women who have undergone bariatric surgery (BS) remains largely uncharacterized.
• Understanding these nutritional profiles is crucial for supporting postpartum maternal and infant health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze breast milk macronutrient and vitamin A content in women with and without a history of bariatric surgery.
• To investigate the influence of maternal diet on breast milk composition post-bariatric surgery.
• To test the hypothesis that bariatric surgery leads to lower energy density and vitamin A concentration in breast milk.

Main Methods:

• A prospective multicenter study involving 24 normal-weight, 39 overweight, 12 obese, and 11 post-bariatric surgery women.
• Collection of breast milk samples weekly from day 3 to week 6 postpartum for analysis of energy, macronutrients, and vitamin A.
• Assessment of maternal diet and physical activity during pregnancy and postpartum periods.

Main Results:

• Breast milk energy, fat, and carbohydrates increased weekly, while proteins and vitamin A decreased in the first two weeks, then stabilized.
• Women who underwent bariatric surgery exhibited higher milk protein concentrations at week 4 and higher carbohydrate concentrations at week 5 compared to normal-weight controls.
• Overall, breast milk composition was found to be adequate across all groups studied.

Conclusions:

• Breast milk produced by women following bariatric surgery appears nutritionally adequate in energy, macronutrients, and vitamin A during the first six weeks of lactation.
• These findings support the continuation of breastfeeding for women who have undergone bariatric surgery.
• The study provides evidence against discouraging breastfeeding in this population.