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Breast-fed infants are leaner than formula-fed infants at 1 y of age: the DARLING study
K G Dewey1, M J Heinig, L A Nommsen
1Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis 95616-8669.
Insights
Infants exclusively breast-fed (BF) for 12 months are leaner than formula-fed (FF) infants. Formula feeding leads to greater weight-for-length and higher body fat percentage in infants up to 24 months old.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Infant Growth and Development
- Body Composition Analysis
Background:
- Infant feeding practices significantly impact growth and body composition.
- Understanding long-term effects of breast milk versus formula is crucial for child health.
- Previous studies suggest differences in growth trajectories based on feeding type.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare anthropometric indexes between breast-fed (BF) and formula-fed (FF) infants.
- To investigate the impact of prolonged breastfeeding (>= 12 months) on infant body fat and weight.
- To determine if energy intake explains observed differences in infant adiposity.
Main Methods:
- Matched cohort study comparing BF (n=46) and FF (n=41) infants from 1 to 24 months.
- Anthropometric measurements including weight-for-length and skinfold thickness at multiple sites.
- Estimation of percent body fat (%FAT) and analysis of energy intake differences.
Main Results:
- Formula-fed infants showed significantly greater weight-for-length from 7 to 24 months.
- Both groups exhibited rapid increases in skinfold thickness and %FAT in early infancy, followed by a decline.
- Formula-fed infants had higher skinfold thickness (except biceps) and %FAT from 5 to 24 months, attributed to lower energy intake in BF infants.
Conclusions:
- Infants breast-fed for at least 12 months are leaner compared to formula-fed infants.
- Feeding method is a key determinant of infant body composition during the first two years of life.
- Maternal and infant fatness correlate, but breast milk composition did not directly relate to infant fatness in this study.
Abstract:
Anthropometric indexes from 1 to 24 mo were compared between matched cohorts of infants either breast-fed (BF, n = 46) or formula-fed (FF, n = 41) until > or = 12 mo. Neither group received solid foods before 4 mo. Weight-for-length was significantly greater among FF infants from 7 to 24 mo. In both groups, skinfold thickness (triceps, biceps, subscapular, flank, and quadriceps) and estimated percent body fat (%FAT) increased rapidly during the first 6-8 mo and declined thereafter. At all sites except biceps, FF infants had larger skinfold thicknesses in later infancy (particularly 9-15 mo) than did BF infants; %FAT was significantly higher from 5 to 24 mo. Lower energy intake among BF infants explained the difference between groups. Maternal and infant fatness were positively correlated at 12-24 mo. Breast-milk lipid and energy concentration were unrelated to infant fatness. These results indicate that infants BF for > or = 12 mo are leaner than their FF counterparts.