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Breast milk nutrient content and infancy growth
Author(s) -
Prentice Philippa,
Ong Ken K.,
Schoemaker Marieke H.,
Tol Eric A. F.,
Vervoort Jacques,
Hughes Ieuan A.,
Acerini Carlo L.,
Dunger David B.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.13362
Subject(s) - medicine , breast milk , nutrient , breast feeding , food science , physiology , pediatrics , biochemistry , chemistry , organic chemistry
Aim Benefits of human breast milk ( HM ) in avoiding rapid infancy weight gain and later obesity could relate to its nutrient content. We tested the hypothesis that differential HM total calorie content ( TCC ) or macronutrient contents may be associated with infancy growth. Methods HM hindmilk samples were collected at ages 4–8 weeks from 614 mothers participating in a representative birth cohort, with repeated infancy anthropometry. HM triglyceride (fat), lipid analytes and lactose (carbohydrate) were measured by 1 H‐ NMR , and protein content by the Dumas method. TCC and %macronutrients were determined. Results In 614 HM samples, fat content was as follows: [median( IQR )]: 2.6 (1.7–3.6) g/100 mL, carbohydrate: 8.6 (8.2–8.8) g/100 mL, protein: 1.2 (1.1–1.2) g/100 mL; TCC : 61.8 (53.7–71.3) kcal/100 mL. HM of mothers exclusively breast feeding vs. mixed feeding was more calorific with higher %fat, lower %carbohydrate and lower %protein. Higher HM TCC was associated with lower 12‐months body mass index ( BMI )/adiposity, and lower 3–12 months gains in weight/ BMI . HM %fat was inversely related to 3–12 months gains in weight, BMI and adiposity, whereas %carbohydrate was positively related to these measures. HM %protein was positively related to 12‐months BMI . Conclusion HM analysis showed wide variation in %macronutrients. Although data on milk intakes were unavailable, our findings suggest functional relevance of HM milk composition to infant growth.