Open AccessAssociations of breastfeeding or formula feeding with infant anthropometry and body composition at 6 months
Author(s) -
Tahir Muna J.,
Ejima Keisuke,
Li Peng,
Demerath Ellen W.,
Allison David B.,
Fields David A.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
maternal and child nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1740-8709
pISSN - 1740-8695
DOI - 10.1111/mcn.13105
Subject(s) - medicine , anthropometry , breastfeeding , formula feeding , fat mass , trunk , lean body mass , cohort , infant formula , breast feeding , pediatrics , fat free mass , body mass index , composition (language) , birth weight , cohort study , body weight , endocrinology , pregnancy , ecology , linguistics , philosophy , genetics , biology
Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the associations of mode of feeding with infant anthropometric and body composition variables at 6 months of age. We studied 259 infants whose exclusive mode of feeding (breast or formula) to 1 month was confirmed. Standard anthropometric characteristics of the infants (weight, length and weight‐for‐length z scores) were obtained, and body composition (total fat mass, fat‐free mass, trunk fat mass and body fat percent) was measured using dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) at 6 months (±12 days). General linear models were used to test the associations of mode of feeding with infant anthropometric and body composition variables at 6 months after adjustment for maternal and infant covariates. In this cohort of predominantly breastfed, White infants of highly educated mothers, fat‐free mass was lower ( P = .002), and trunk fat mass ( P = .032) and body fat percent ( P < .001) were greater in breastfed infants than in formula‐fed infants at 6 months of age. After adjustment for covariates, total fat‐free mass was significantly lower ( β = −372 g, [SE = 125, P = .003]), and body fat percent was significantly greater ( β = 3.30, [SE = 0.91, P < .001]) in breastfed infants than in formula‐fed infants. No other significant associations were observed. These findings support those of previous studies reporting greater fat‐free mass in formula‐fed infants during the first 6 months of life. Additional research is warranted to explore whether differences in infant body composition by mode of feeding persist throughout the life course and to assess causality.