Maternal Mediterranean Diet During Lactation and Infant Growth.

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Pediatrics
• Maternal Health

Background:

• Human milk is the optimal infant nutrition source, with composition influenced by maternal diet.
• The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) has shown effects on milk composition, but its impact on infant outcomes requires further investigation.
• Understanding maternal diet's role in lactation is crucial for infant health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between maternal adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) during lactation and infant anthropometric outcomes.
• To explore how specific components of the MedDiet relate to infant growth parameters.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 167 mother-infant dyads from the prospective ABC Baby study.
• Maternal dietary intake assessed using a modified Diet History Questionnaire II postpartum.
• Infant anthropometrics (length, weight, skinfold thickness) and Z-scores (WAZ, LAZ, WLZ) measured at 6 months.

Main Results:

• Higher maternal MedDiet score associated with lower infant flank skinfold thickness.
• Specific MedDiet components showed varied associations: fruit and fish intake linked to lower skinfold thickness; nuts/seeds to higher weight-for-length Z-score (WLZ).
• Red/processed meat intake associated with lower weight-for-age (WAZ) and length-for-age (LAZ) Z-scores; added sugar intake linked to lower WLZ.

Conclusions:

• Maternal MedDiet adherence during lactation is associated with infant body composition, specifically lower skinfold thickness.
• Individual dietary components within the MedDiet influence infant anthropometric Z-scores.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the relationship between maternal MedDiet, human milk composition, and infant development.