Breastfeeding in Phenylketonuria: Changing Modalities, Changing Perspectives
Juri Zuvadelli1, Sabrina Paci1, Elisabetta Salvatici1
1Clinical Department of Pediatrics, San Paolo Hospital, ASST Santi Paolo E Carlo, University of Milan, Via Antonio di Rudinì 8, 20142 Milan, Italy.
Insights
For infants with phenylketonuria (PKU), a specific breastfeeding method using Phe-free formula before human milk (HM) can extend breastfeeding duration. This approach supports HM benefits for PKU patients and mothers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Phenylketonuria (PKU) management requires strict control of phenylalanine (Phe) intake.
- Human milk (HM) offers significant benefits, particularly when breastfeeding is prolonged.
- Optimal breastfeeding strategies for infants with PKU are not well-defined in current literature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate different nutritional approaches for newborns and infants diagnosed with PKU.
- To determine if specific feeding methods influence the duration of breastfeeding in PKU infants.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of feeding data from 42 infants diagnosed with PKU.
- Analysis of three distinct breastfeeding approaches used in conjunction with Phe-free formula supplementation.
- Comparison of breastfeeding duration across different intervention groups.
Main Results:
- 67% of the studied PKU infants were breastfed.
- The duration of breastfeeding was significantly longer in infants who received a pre-measured amount of Phe-free formula before HM.
- The specific feeding approach demonstrated an impact on breastfeeding duration.
Conclusions:
- This study suggests a specific method for optimizing breastfeeding in infants with PKU.
- Administering Phe-free formula prior to HM may prolong breastfeeding duration.
- These findings encourage greater awareness of appropriate breastfeeding modalities to maximize benefits for PKU infants and their mothers.
Abstract:
Phenylketonuria (PKU) management aims to control phenylalanine (Phe) intakes. In newborns and infants this implies possible titration of Human milk (HM) with supplementation of Phe-free formula. HM benefits, better if prolonged, are well known in healthy populations, suggesting it may be used in PKU patients. Despite that, the current literature does not define recommendations on how best perform it in such a population. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate nutrition approaches in newborns and infants affected by PKU and to define if differences can influence the duration of breastfeeding. Data from 42 PKU infants were reviewed. Of these, 67% were breastfed with the use of three different approaches. The type of approach used impacted the duration of breastfeeding, which was longer when using a pre-measured amount of Phe-free formula administered prior to HM. This is the first study to suggest a specific method for breastfeeding in PKU. Considering widely known breastfeeding benefits, both for patients and their mothers, our data should encourage adequate awareness on how to choose correct breastfeeding modalities.
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