Abstract
AimBenefits 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 1H‐NMR, and protein content by the Dumas method. TCC and %macronutrients were determined.ResultsIn 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.
Highlights
It is increasingly recognised that early postnatal nutrition, as well as being critical for optimal infancy growth, may be associated with long-term health outcomes [1]
Cohort description The subcohort of 614 mothers of singleton, late preterm/ term infants who provided a human breast milk (HM) sample was similar to all mother–infant pairs in Cambridge Baby Growth Study (CBGS) who were breast feeding
We found relatively less interperson variability in %protein than in other macronutrients, and it may be that larger differences in %protein, such as those seen in formula milk studies [9], are needed to observe significant influences of protein content on infancy weight gain
Summary
It is increasingly recognised that early postnatal nutrition, as well as being critical for optimal infancy growth, may be associated with long-term health outcomes [1]. In contemporary Western settings, breast feeding has been associated with slower gains in infancy weight [4] and body fat [5], and debated has been linked to lower risk for obesity and associated metabolic disease risk across the life course [6].
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