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The growth of breast fed and artificially fed infants from birth to twelve months
Insights
Infant weight gain differs by feeding method. Artificially fed infants showed greater weight gains than breastfed infants, particularly after 6 months of age.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutrition Science
- Infant Health
Background:
- Infant feeding practices significantly influence growth and development.
- Understanding the impact of different feeding methods on infant weight gain is crucial for pediatric nutrition.
- Previous studies have explored various feeding modalities, but nuanced comparisons of weight gain trajectories are ongoing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the relationship between infant feeding practices and growth patterns.
- To compare weight gain in healthy infants based on feeding method (breastfeeding vs. artificial feeding) and duration of breastfeeding.
- To investigate potential differences in weight gain trajectories beyond 6 months of age.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of growth data from 394 healthy infants.
- Grouping infants by sex, feeding method (breastfed or artificially fed), and duration of breastfeeding.
- Comparison of weight gains across different age intervals (0-3 months, 3-6 months, and over 12 months).
Main Results:
- Weight gains were similar for boys and girls from birth to 3 months, irrespective of feeding method.
- From 3 to 6 months, artificially fed infants and those breastfed for shorter durations exhibited greater weight gains compared to exclusively breastfed infants.
- After 6 months, artificially fed infants consistently showed greater weight gains, with significant differences observed over 12 months.
Conclusions:
- Artificial feeding, even with 'humanized' formulas, is associated with accelerated infant weight gain compared to breastfeeding, particularly in later infancy.
- Feeding practices significantly impact infant weight gain trajectories, with notable divergence after 3-6 months.
- Further research may be warranted to explore the long-term health implications of these differential growth patterns.
Abstract:
Growth data collected from 394 healthy infants were analysed in relation to feeding practices. Infants were grouped on the basis of sex, if breast fed or artificially fed, and duration of breast feeding. From birth to 3 months, weight gains were similar for boys (2.5 kg) and also for girls (2.3 kg) irrespective of feeding method. From 3 to 6 months weight gains were greater in infants who were artificially fed from birth (2.0 kg both sexes) or breast fed for only a short time (1.9 kg) than for those exclusively breast fed for 6 months (1.6 kg) or longer (1.7 kg). Weight gains continued to be greater in artificially fed infants after 6 months. Over 12 months, artificially fed boys gained 410 g and girls 750 g more than those who were breast fed from birth. These differences occurred even though the artificial feedings that prevailed to 6 months and longer were low-solute ('humanized') formulas.