Effects of Nutrition Types on Growth in Infants

Aim: Breastfeeding ensures ideal physical, intellectual and\udbehavioral development of infants, and also protects them against\udinfections and chronic diseases. In this study, we aimed to evaluate\udthe impact of feeding patterns on physical growth and mental\uddevelopment of infants in the first 6 months of life.\udMethods: In this study, we retrospectively analyzed medical files\udof infants aged between 0 and 6 months who were referred to a\udprovincial family health center. According to their feeding patterns,\udthey were divided into 3 groups as only breastfed group (group AS,\udn=63), only formula-fed group (group FM, n=30), and the group\udof infants fed with both breast milk, and baby formulas (group\udAF, n=63). Weight, height and head circumferences of the infants\udwere measured at birth, and at postnatal months 1., 2., 3., 4., and\ud6. and were evaluated for each group.\udResults: Normal birth rate was higher in the breastfed group\ud(41.3%) when compared with the formula-fed babies (31.6%).\udDuring 6 weeks of the follow-up period, statistically significant\udincreases were detected in body weights of the infants fed only\udwith breast milk at months 1., 2. and 3., in body heights at month\ud2, and in head circumferences at months 1., 2. and 3. (p<0.05).\udThe increase in body height in the infants fed both with breast milk\udand baby formulas was higher at months 4, and 6 than those in\udthe other groups.\udConclusion: Breast-fed babies grow faster than formula-fed babies\udwithin the first months of life, but later on, their growth rates slow\uddown. However, they grow up with a healthier life and mental\udcapabilities as well as being protected from deleterious effects of\udobesity. (The Medical Bulletin of Haseki 2015; 53:199-203