Milk feeding and dietary patterns predict weight and fat gains in infancy

Current guidelines recommend that infants are exclusively breast fed for the first 6 months of life, with particular solid foods being gradually introduced from 6 months. Our objective was to compare the growth of infants whose feeding most closely followed current guidelines with the growth of infants with other feeding practices. Participants were 1740 infants in a prospective cohort study in Southampton, UK. At 6 and 12 months, infants’ milk feeding was recorded, diets assessed using food frequency questionnaires (FFQ), and anthropometry performed. Principal components analysis was used to identify patterns of foods in the diet using the food intakes assessed by the FFQs. Two patterns (‘infant guidelines’ and ‘adult foods’) explained most variance in infant diet at 6 and 12 months of age. The main outcomes were conditional growth in weight, length and skinfold thickness from 0–6 and 6–12 months. Infants who were breast fed from 0–6 months gained weight, length and adiposity more slowly than formula‐fed infants, independent of age at introduction of solids and maternal factors: compared with infants who were breast fed from 0–6 months, formula‐fed infants gained 0.21 standard deviation scores (SDS) in weight [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.00, 0.42]. Infants whose dietary pattern was most similar to current feeding guidelines, with high frequencies of fresh fruit and vegetables, home‐prepared foods and breast milk, gained weight and skinfold thickness more rapidly from 6 to 12 months than other infants, independent of milk feeding, age at introduction of solids and maternal factors. Compared with infants in the lowest quarter, infants in the highest ‘infant guidelines’ score quarter gained 0.24 SDS [95% CI 0.06, 0.43] in weight and 0.26 SDS [95% CI 0.07, 0.45] in skinfold thickness. Conversely, infants whose diets had the highest frequencies of breads and processed foods gained weight less rapidly from 6 to 12 months than other infants. The extent to which the patterns of diet and growth we have described will influence the current or later health of infants is unknown. We are following up the infants in this study to assess the impact of these patterns beyond the first year of life. These associations should also be examined in other settings and populations.     

Association of infant feeding practices in the general population with infant growth and stool characteristics

This was a prospective cohort study of 976 infants from birth to 12 months of age. Infants were fed breast milk, goat infant formula, cow infant formula, or a combination of formula and breast milk during the first 4 months of age. Data on type of milk feeding and infant growth (weight and height) were collected at birth and at 4, 8, and 12 months during routine clinical assessment. The number and consistency of bowel motions per day were recorded based on observational data supplied by the mothers. Infants fed breast milk or goat or cow infant formula during the first 4 months displayed similar growth outcomes. More of the infants fed cow infant formula had fewer and more well-formed bowel motions compared with breast-fed infants. The stool characteristics of infants fed goat formula resembled those of infants fed breast milk.     

Early infant feeding and growth status of US-born infants and children aged 4-71 mo: analyses from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994

BACKGROUND: There is controversy over what growth references to use in evaluating breast-fed infants and concern about whether never-breast-fed infants are at risk of overweight in childhood. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine whether infants who are exclusively breast-fed for 4 mo differ in average size from infants who are fed in other ways and whether such differences persist through age 5 y. DESIGN: Data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) were linked to birth certificates of US-born infants and children. Feeding groups were defined on the basis of feeding patterns over the first 4 mo of life: exclusively breast-fed for 4 mo, partially breast-fed, breast-fed for <4 mo, and never breast-fed. Growth status, indexed as internally derived z scores (SD units) for weight, length (height), weight-for-length (height), midupper arm circumference, and triceps skinfold thickness, was compared among feeding groups. RESULTS: The final sample consisted of 5594 non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Mexican American infants and children aged 4-71 mo. Of these, 21% were exclusively breast-fed for 4 mo, 10% were partially breast-fed, 24% were breast-fed for <4 mo, and 45% were never breast-fed. At 8-11 mo, infants who were exclusively breast-fed for4 mo had adjusted mean z scores for weight (-0.21; -0.2 kg), weight-for-length (-0.27), and midupper arm circumference (-0.15) that differed significantly from zero (P < 0. 05). By 12-23 mo, the differences had dissipated; there were no significant differences subsequent to 5 y. Triceps skinfold thickness was not related to early infant feeding. CONCLUSION: Infants who were exclusively breast-fed for 4 mo weighed less at 8-11 mo than did infants who were fed in other ways, but there were few other significant differences in growth status through age 5 y associated with early infant feeding.     

How did babies grow 100 years ago?

The rates and patterns of growth in weight of European and North American infants have changed over the last 100 years. Since the development and first use of growth charts for postnatal health surveillance a century ago, there appears to have been an increase in the weight of 1-year olds of about 1 kg. Taking into account the higher past rates of infant morbidity and mortality, and poorer quality of artificial feeds, this change is likely to be another expression of the secular increase in physical stature consequent on improved hygiene and nutrition. Using the new WHO (World Health Organisation) standards of infant weight growth, this secular change can be observed for both breast-fed and formula-fed babies. The slower weight growth of the former, both now and in the past compared with modern formula-fed babies, may have implications of our understanding of the risk factors for obesity and cardiovascular disease. The variability of infant growth in time and space, and the plasticity of developmental processes during the life course (fetal life, infancy, puberty and reproduction), means that the WHO infant growth standard should not alone be regarded as an ideal growth trajectory for all babies.     

Infant growth patterns in the slums of Dhaka in relation to birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation, and prematurity

BACKGROUND: Relations between size and maturity at birth and infant growth have been studied inadequately in Bangladesh, where the incidence of low birth weight is high and most infants are breast-fed. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to describe infant growth patterns and their relations to birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation, and prematurity. DESIGN: A total of 1654 infants born in selected low-socioeconomic areas of Dhaka, Bangladesh, were enrolled at birth. Weight and length were measured at birth and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 mo of age. RESULTS: The infants' mean birth weight was 2516 g, with 46.4% weighing <2500 g; 70% were small for gestational age (SGA) and 17% were premature. Among the SGA infants, 63% had adequate ponderal indexes. The mean weight of the study infants closely tracked the -2 SD curve of the World Health Organization pooled breast-fed sample. Weight differences by birth weight, SGA, or preterm categories were retained throughout infancy. Mean z scores based on the pooled breast-fed sample were -2.38, -1. 72, and -2.34 at birth, 3 mo, and 12 mo. Correlation analysis showed greater plasticity of growth in the first 3 mo of life than later in the first year. CONCLUSIONS: Infant growth rates were similar to those observed among breast-fed infants in developed countries. Most study infants experienced chronic intrauterine undernourishment. Catch-up growth was limited and weight at 12 mo was largely a function of weight at birth. Improvement of birth weight is likely to lead to significant gains in infant nutritional status in this population, although interventions in the first 3 mo are also likely to be beneficial.     

河南省0～2岁婴幼儿碘营养状况和喂养方式与生长发育的关系

目的 探讨0～2岁婴幼儿的喂养方式和碘营养状况对其生长发育的影响。方法 采用整群抽样的方法,在河南省的18个省辖市各随机抽取2个县,每个县调查100名0～2岁婴幼儿的尿碘水平、喂养方式、生长指标。利用WHO Anthro软件计算年龄别体重评分（weight for age Z score,WAZ）和年龄别身高评分（height for age Z score,HAZ）。分别采用单因素方差分析和多元线性回归探讨碘营养水平和喂养方式对婴幼儿身高和体重的影响。结果 不同碘营养水平之间,13～18月龄组婴幼儿WAZ差异有统计学意义（F = 2.494,P = 0.043）;不同喂养方式之间,13～18月龄组WAZ差异有显著性（F = 3.040,P = 0.049）,19～24月龄组HAZ差异有统计学意义（F = 3.428,P = 0.034）。在校正了父母亲身高和体重、母亲年龄和文化程度、家庭收入等变量后,多元线性回归分析结果显示:13～18月龄的婴幼儿尿碘水平在50 μg/L以下的婴幼儿体重显著低于尿碘水平在50 μg/L以上的婴幼儿,未发现碘营养水平和身长的相关关系有统计学意义;在13～18月龄组,人工喂养的婴儿比母乳喂养的婴儿体重偏低（t = - 2.381,P = 0.018）;但在19～24月龄组,人工喂养的婴儿比母乳喂养的婴儿身长偏高（t = 2.639,P = 0.009）。结论 碘营养水平对婴儿的生长发育有一定影响,应保持婴儿适宜的碘营养水平。母乳喂养和人工喂养的婴儿生长方式存在一定的差异,但都在正常范围之内。     

Infant feeding patterns on Mauritius Island, 1991

The 1991 Mauritius Contraceptive Prevalence Survey (CPS) included a special module on infant feeding patterns in Mauritius. Since 1985, when a similar CPS was conducted, the incidence of breast-feeding has fallen from 86% to 72%. The duration of any breast-feeding among those breast-fed remained constant at 13.6 months. The module allowed for an assessment of the World Health Organization (WHO) breast-feeding indicators on exclusive breast-feeding, timely complementary feeding and continued breast-feeding. Only 16% of infants 0–3 months old are exclusively breast-fed; only 29% of infants 6–9 months old receive breast milk and complementary foods and only 27% of children 12–15 months are still breast-fed. These patterns of limited breast-feeding and early supplementation may signal future declines in breast-feeding for other African and Asian countries. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd     

Breast feeding,growth and morbidity

The effect of exclusive breast feeding in the first few months of life on physical growth was studied prospectively in a group of 36 full-term healthy newborns. Growth failure was not observed in any infant until after the third month of life. The average growth curve for the entire group was between the 25th and 50th percentile at the end of the study period. However, faltering of growth as judged by weight at or below the tenth percentile of standard for age was seen in three (8%) infants at the age of four months, five (13%) at five months, eight (22%) at six months, nine (25%) at seven months, and twelve (33%) at eight months. Morbidity experience showed a slight but statistically higher frequency of respiratory infections and otitis in those infants who had shown faltered growth. Volume of milk intake was similar in the two groups. These observations suggest that a small proportion of exclusively breast-fed infants may not achieve adequate growth. In such infants, consideration should be given to supplementation after 4 months of age.     

Effects of the etonogestrel-releasing implant Implanon and a nonmedicated intrauterine device on the growth of breast-fed infants

The study objectives were to compare the effects of an etonogestrel-releasing implant (Implanon) and a nonmedicated intrauterine device (IUD) on parameters of lactation in breast-feeding women and on the growth of their breast-fed infants over a 3-year period. Healthy lactating women (28-56 days postpartum) chose either the implant (n=42) or the IUD (n=38). Infant growth during a 3-year follow-up period is reported here. Total duration of breast-feeding coinciding with the mothers' treatment was 421.0 and 423.4 days in the Implanon and IUD groups, respectively. There were no differences between the infant groups in terms of body length, biparietal head circumference and body weight. No abnormalities were reported in psychomotor development or during physical examination. No treatment-related side effects were observed in either group. In conclusion, there were no differences in the growth of breast-fed infants of women treated with Implanon or a nonmedicated IUD. Implanon, therefore, appears to be a safe contraceptive option for breast-feeding women and their infants.     

Zinc Deficiency in Nursing Infants

Zinc deficiency during nursing can occur even in breast-fed infants. Zinc reserves accumulated during fetal development modulate the infant’s susceptibility to zinc deficiency. Improvement of maternal zinc nutrition during pregnancy is the key for infant’s zinc nutritional support and prevention of low-for-lactation-age zinc concentrations of breast-milk.     

The new "breast from birth" growth charts. An updated version of the paper given at the Primary Care Conference and Exhibition, May 2003

The Child Growth Foundation has published the first weight reference charts specifically designed for the breast-fed infant. Based on a sample of 120 long-term British breast-fed babies, the charts demonstrate the particular growth pattern of breast-fed babies. This differs from formula-fed infants in that breast-fed babies initially gain weight more rapidly, but from two to three months of age their weight gain decreases and they begin to move downwards across centiles. At present breast-fed babies are measured against the standard British 1990 weight reference chart rather than one that reflects the pattern of the long-term breast-fed baby. The author, Tam Fry from the Child Growth Foundation, argues that the new charts will prevent mothers and health professionals from becoming anxious and changing the infant from breast to formula milk when growth begins to slow down. He also suggests that the charts could be used as the reference for all British babies, whatever the means of feeding.     

Session 4: Mineral metabolism and body composition iron status of breast-fed infants

Fe deficiency is a common nutritional disorder during infancy, particularly in low-income countries. The Fe status of a breast-fed infant is strongly influenced by the body Fe content at birth, which is determined by factors that operate before birth (maternal Fe status before and during pregnancy; infant gestational age and birth weight) and at the time of delivery (the timing of umbilical cord clamping). Delaying the clamping of the umbilical cord for 2 min can increase body Fe content by approximately 33% (75 mg), and results in greater Fe stores at 6 months of age. After birth, male gender and a rapid rate of weight gain are associated with lower Fe status. During the first half of infancy dietary Fe requirements depend on Fe stores at birth. For an exclusively-breast-fed full-term normal-birth-weight infant with delayed umbilical cord clamping, whose mother had adequate Fe status during pregnancy, the Fe provided from stores and breast milk is sufficient for >/=6 months, but before this time higher-risk infants may become Fe deficient. Fe supplementation can be beneficial for high-risk infants, but can have adverse effects on growth and morbidity of Fe-replete infants. After 6 months most breast-fed infants will require complementary foods that are rich in Fe.     

Birth Weight and Infant Growth: Optimal Infant Weight Gain versus Optimal Infant Weight

Objective: Infant growth assessment often focuses on “optimal” infant weights and lengths at specific ages, while de-emphasizing infant weight gain. Objective of this study was to examine infant growth patterns by measuring infant weight gain relative to birth weight. Methods: We conducted this study based on data collected in a prospective cohort study including 3,302 births with follow up examinations of infants between the ages of 8 and 18 months. All infants were participants in the Louisiana State Women, Infant and Children Supplemental Food Program between 1999 and 2001. Growth was assessed by infant weight gain percentage (IWG%, defined as infant weight gain divided by birth weight) as well as by mean z-scores and percentiles for weight-for-age, length-for-age, and weight-for-length calculated based on growth charts published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Results: An inverse relationship was noted between birth weight category and IWG% (from 613.9% for infants with birth weights <1500 g to 151.3% for infants with birth weights of 4000 g or more). In contrast, low birth weight infants had lower weight-for-age, weight-for-length z-scores and percentiles compared to normal birth weight infants according to CDC growth charts. Conclusions: Although low birth weight infants had lower anthropometric measures compared to a national reference population, they had significant catch-up growth; High birth weight infants had significant slow-down growth. We suggest that growth assessments should compare infants’ anthropometric data to their own previous growth measures as well as to a reference population. Further studies are needed to identify optimal ranges of infant weight gain.     

A critical evaluation of the evidence on the association between type of infant feeding and cognitive development

This paper presents a critical evaluation of 24 studies on the association between type of infant feeding and cognitive development published over the past 20 years. Validity and generalisability of study findings were assessed according to three methodological standards: clearly defined outcome, specification of partial vs. exclusive breast feeding and control of confounding. Only six of the 24 investigations met all three standards. The most frequent study flaw was failure to distinguish between partial and exclusive breast feeding. Studies which made this distinction found larger IQ advantages to breast-fed infants than studies that did not. Four of the six studies meeting all three standards found an advantage in cognitive development to breast-fed infants of the order of two to five IQ points for term infants and eight points for low birthweight infants. We conclude that the question of whether breast feeding and formula feeding have differential effects on cognitive development has not yet been comprehensively answered. Research to date provides only an indication of the effect of relatively brief durations of partial breast feeding and even briefer durations of exclusive breast feeding. Future studies should measure breast feeding as a continuous dose-type variable, examine longer durations of breast feeding and control for a full range of confounders using techniques that deal appropriately with multicollinearity.     

Vitamin B-6 status of breast-fed neonates: influence of pyridoxine supplementation on mothers and neonates.

Vitamin B-6 concentrations in human milk are known to respond rapidly to changes in maternal vitamin B-6 intake. In this study, mothers were supplemented during the first 28 d of lactation with 2 or 27 mg pyridoxine (PN)-HCl/d and a subgroup of breast-fed infants of the 2-mg/d-supplemented mothers were supplemented with 0.4 mg PN-HCl/d. Vitamin B-6 intakes of breast-fed infants reflected the amount of their mother's supplement; intakes were highest for the vitamin-supplemented infants. Vitamin B-6 intake of mothers was a strong indicator of infant vitamin B-6 status. Vitamin intake of infants correlated significantly with five measures of vitamin B-6 status. Plasma pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP) concentrations and birth weight were the strongest predictors of infant growth that were examined. Alkaline phosphatase activity in the mother's milk and infant plasma reflected pyridoxal-PLP ratios in these fluids, suggesting that the enzyme acts in regulating circulating vitamer concentrations.     

The relationship between maternal depression and adverse infant health outcomes in Zambia: a cross‐sectional feasibility study

Background Post‐partum depression affects many new mothers. In the developing world, there may be an association between post‐partum depression and adverse mortality‐related infant health. Such associations have been found in South Asia; however, findings are inconsistent in Africa. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of such research in rural Zambia, and investigate associations between maternal depression and adverse infant health outcomes. Methods A cross‐sectional study was undertaken in a rural district of Zambia. Consecutive women with infants between 2 and 12 months were recruited from under five clinics in three locations. Depression was assessed using the Self‐reporting Questionnaire. Outcomes of infant size (actual weight and length, and as ≤5th percentile) and infant health (serious illness, diarrhoeal episodes, incomplete vaccination) were obtained. Relative risk, step‐wise logistic regression and linear regression were used to analyse the data. Results Two hundred seventy‐eight of 286 women agreed to take part (97.1%). The proportion with a high risk of depression was 9.7%. Adverse infant health outcomes were all proportionally greater in infants of ‘depressed’ mothers, and the associations with adjusted mean difference in weight (0.58 kg, CI 0.09–1.08) and length (1.95 cm, CI 0.49–3.50) were statistically significant. Other independent associations with episodes of diarrhoea (maternal education, older infant age, supplementary feeding) and incomplete vaccination (location, older infant age) were identified. Conclusion It is feasible to conduct a study on this subject in a rural area of Zambia. The results show that reduced infant weight and length were significantly associated with maternal ‘depression’. Other adverse outcomes may be and need investigating in an appropriately powered study.     

trans Fatty acids in human milk are inversely associated with concentrations of essential all-cis n-6 and n-3 fatty acids and determine trans, but not n-6 and n-3, fatty acids in plasma lipids of breast-fed infants.

BACKGROUND: Human milk fatty acids vary with maternal dietary fat composition. Hydrogenated dietary oils with trans fatty acids may displace cis n-6 and n-3 unsaturated fatty acids or have adverse effects on their metabolism. The effects of milk trans, n-6, and n-3 fatty acids in breast-fed infants are unclear, although n-6 and n-3 fatty acids are important in infant growth and development. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the relations between trans and cis unsaturated fatty acids in milk and plasma phospholipids and triacylglycerols of breast-fed infants, and to identify the major maternal dietary sources of trans fatty acids. DESIGN: We collected milk from 103 mothers with exclusively breast-fed 2-mo-old infants, blood from 62 infants, and 3-d dietary records from 21 mothers. RESULTS: Mean (+/-SEM) percentages of trans fatty acids were as follows: milk, 7.1 +/- 0.32%; infants' triacylglycerols, 6.5 +/- 0. 33%; and infants' phospholipids, 3.7 +/- 0.16%. Milk trans fatty acids, alpha-linolenic acid (18:3n-3), arachidonic acid (20:4n-6), docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) (P < 0.001), and linoleic acid (18:2n-6) (P = 0.007) were each related to the same fatty acid in infant plasma phospholipids. Milk trans fatty acids were inversely related to milk 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3, but not to milk or infant plasma 20:4n-6 or 22:6n-3. trans Fatty acids represented 7.7% of maternal total fat intake (2.5% of total energy); the major dietary sources were bakery products and breads (32%), snacks (14%), fast foods (11%), and margarines and shortenings (11%). CONCLUSIONS: There were comparable concentrations of trans fatty acids in the maternal diet, breast milk, and plasma triacylglycerols of breast-fed infants. Prepared foods were the major dietary source of trans fatty acids.     

Full breast-feeding for at least four months has differential effects on growth before and after six months of age among children in a Mexican community

This study examines the relationship between breast-feeding and growth from 0 to 6 and 6 to 20 mo among 185 children in a Mexican community. Infants from a previous 6-mo longitudinal study were followed up for additional anthropometric measurements at a mean age of 19.9 mo. Size at 6 mo and at follow-up were modeled as outcomes of whether infants were fully breast-fed (exclusively or predominantly breast-fed) for at least 4 mo, controlling for size at birth and 6 mo, respectively, and potential confounders. From birth to 6 mo, fully breast-fed infants had ponderal index increments of 0.07 units larger (P = 0.04) than comparison infants. There were no differences in weight. For length, an interaction between full breast-feeding and socioeconomic status (SES) was found, with fully breast-fed infants of low SES growing more than comparison infants, whereas the opposite was seen at upper SES levels. From 6 to 20 mo, fully breast-fed infants had weight and length increments of 0.53 cm (P < 0.001) and 0.72 kg (P = 0.01) smaller than those of comparison infants. For ponderal index, an interaction between mother's education and breast-feeding revealed an inverted U-shaped response across levels of education. Additionally, logistic regressions of monthly breast-feeding on lagged measurements revealed that relatively heavier infants had higher odds of being fully breast-fed at 2 and 3 mo. Our findings indicate that the benefits of full breast-feeding on growth may be most pronounced early in life. Further research of unmeasured confounders may explain the association of full breast-feeding with slower growth beyond 6 mo.     

A whey-predominant formula induces fecal microbiota similar to that found in breast-fed infants

To compare the effects of a whey-predominant infant formula and breast milk on the gut microbiota, growth, and tolerance of infants, we conducted an open, prospective, parallel-group study in healthy newborn infants. A total of 60 infants were enrolled, and 55 completed the study. Of the 55 infants, 21 were breast-fed and 34 were fed a whey-predominant study formula that had low phosphate concentration (31 mg/100 kcal), was reduced in protein (1.8 g/100 kcal or 0.43 g/kJ), had lactose as the sole carbohydrate source, and had an amino acid profile and buffering capacity similar to that of human milk. At 30 and 60 days of age, fecal bacterial counts were determined using fluorescence in situ hybridization and culture plating, and growth and digestive tolerance were evaluated. There were no differences in fecal bacterial counts between formula-fed and breast-fed infants at either 30 or 60 days. Fecal counts of bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, clostridia, enterococci, and Enterobacteriacea were similar in the 2 groups using both bacterial enumeration methods. Growth and digestive tolerance were also similar in the 2 groups. Thus, this whey-predominant infant formula is safe and well tolerated, and it affects infants' microbiota in a similar manner as observed with breast milk.