Osmolalities of bottle- and breast-milk fed to poor urban Brazilian infants.
Feeding practices related to osmotic strength of bottle-milk and breast-milk were studied in 133 families with infants less than 1 year of age in a poor urban settlement in Brasilia, Brazil. Osmolality [mean (SEM)] of breast-milk [318.8 (4.46) mOsm/kg water] was significantly less than that of bottle-milk [568.7 (29.9) mOsm/kg water]. The wide range of osmotic strength (253.7-1,380.0 mOsm/kg water) found in bottle-milk was partly due to the predominant use (82%) of powdered cow's milk among non-breastfeeders and its improper reconstitution. Diarrhoea and feeding management are also discussed.
Dorea
J G
JG
Department of Nutrition, Universidade de Brasilia, DF, Brazil.
Cabral
M S
MS
Da Gloria
M
M
Wright
M
M
Rodrigues
K H
KH
D000818:Animals; D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001938:Brazil; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008892:Milk / Q000009:adverse effects; D008895:Milk, Human; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011203:Poverty; D011204:Poverty Areas; D014505:Urban Population