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Supplementation of lactating mothers with lipid‐based nutrient supplement does not influence infant Hemoglobin levels during exclusive breastfeeding
Author(s) -
Widen Elizabeth M,
Adair Linda,
Bentley Margaret,
Chasela Charles,
Kayira Dumbani,
Kacheche Zebrone,
Tegha Gerald,
Knight Rodney,
Jamieson Denise,
Horst Charles
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.592.20
Infant iron stores typically decline, and likelihood of anemia increases between birth and 6 mo. We evaluated the influence of maternal lipid‐based nutrient supplement (LNS) on iron status of 2,126 HIV exposed infants during exclusive breastfeeding. As part of the Breastfeeding, Antiretroviral and Nutrition Study, Malawian HIV infected lactating mothers were randomized to receive either LNS intended to meet nutritional needs for lactation or no LNS. The LNS provided 15 mg iron/d. Within these groups, there was further randomization to maternal antiretroviral drugs, daily infant nevirapine, or no antiretroviral regimen. Iron status was defined by hemoglobin (Hb) (g/dL). At birth, mean infant Hb (17.4 g/dL) was similar to that of healthy infant reference values. We used longitudinal models, stratified by drug arm, to relate maternal supplement to infant Hb from birth to 24 wk, adjusting for birthweight, sex, and maternal Hb measured concurrent with infant Hb. Coefficients on supplement and supplement interacted with age were not significantly different from 0 in any longitudinal model (p=0.32, 0.79, and 0.92 in maternal drug, infant drug, and no drug arms, respectively). While maternal nutrition supplementation during lactation may provide other benefits to breastfeeding infants, it does not influence infant Hb. Grant Funding Source : Supported by CDC (U48‐DP000059‐01) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP53107).