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Breast milk nutrient content and infancy growth.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Repository DOI


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Authors

Prentice, Philippa 
Ong, Ken K 
Schoemaker, Marieke H 
van Tol, Eric AF 
Vervoort, Jacques 

Abstract

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.

Description

Keywords

Breast milk, Growth, Macronutrients, Nutrition, Weight, Adult, Child Development, Female, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Lipids, Male, Milk, Human, Prospective Studies

Journal Title

Acta Paediatr

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0803-5253
1651-2227

Volume Title

105

Publisher

Wiley
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (G1001995)
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) (unknown)
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12015/2)
Medical Research Council (G0600717)
Medical Research Council (MC_U106179472)
PP was supported by a MRC Clinical Training Fellowship (G1001995). The Cambridge Baby Growth Study has been supported by the European Union, the World Cancer Research Foundation International, the Medical Research Council, the NIHR Cambridge Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, the Newlife Foundation for disabled children, the Mothercare Group Foundation, and Mead Johnson Nutrition.