The Relationship of Breast Milk Intake as Assessed with Deuterium Dilution on Growth and Body Composition of Infants in Jamaica

Abstract

BackgroundThe WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months of age. Jamaica is a lesser developed country which is undergoing an epidemiological transition. Recent evidence suggests a relationship between breastfeeding, infant growth and chronic diseases in later life.ObjectiveThis study sought to determine the relationship between breast milk consumption with the pattern of growth and body composition in Jamaican infants at 3 months.MethodA longitudinal and observational study including 35 child‐mother pairs, recruited from the post natal ward of the University Hospital of the West Indies. Body composition and breast milk intake were measured at 6 weeks using the mother to child deuterium dilution method. Standard anthropometric methods were used to assess growth at 6 weeks and 3 months.ResultsThirteen (37%) of the women were found to be exclusively breastfeeding with mean breast milk consumption of 956 ± 304 g day‐1. This contrasted with 22 women who were not exclusively breastfeeding with mean consumption of 704 ± 349 g day‐1 of milk intake and 526.7 ± 512.7 g day‐1of non‐milk intake. In the 35 infants, higher breast milk intake was positively associated with higher length, weight and fat free mass (p=0.01) at both time points. Exclusive breastfed infants were taller (p=0.02) and had larger head circumference (p=0.03) at 6 weeks and 3 months when compared with mixed fed infants.ConclusionThe data suggests that exclusive breastfed infants are less likely to be shorter than mixed fed infants. Infants who had greater intake of breast milk had a higher proportion of lean body mass. The effect of breast milk on length and lean tissue deposition could be related to less risk of developing obesity later in life.