Is milk production impaired by dieting during lactation?
To determine the feasibility of a weight-loss program during lactation, 33 healthy, well-nourished, breast-feeding women were enrolled. Twenty-two women completed the 10-wk study, losing a mean (+/- SD) of 4.8 +/- 1.2 kg. Mean energy intake during the study was nearly 2.25 MJ (538 kcal) below the mean daily baseline intake of 9.64 +/- 2.48 MJ (2303 +/- 592 kcal). The sum of three maternal skinfold thickness, waist, and hip measurements were significantly smaller (P = 0.0001) at study completion. Mean daily milk production was 759 +/- 142 mL/d at baseline and 802 +/- 189 mL/d at week 10. The infants gained an average of 21 g/d, or 1.48 +/- 0.40 kg overall. The mean percent fat of milk at baseline and 10 wk was 4.06 +/- 2.15 and 4.00 +/- 2.56, respectively. The mean daily nitrogen content of milk at baseline and study completion was 1.82 +/- 0.32 and 1.62 +/- 27 g/L. These findings suggest that modest weight loss by healthy breast-feeding women does not adversely affect either quantity or quality of milk consumed by their infants.
Dusdieker
L B
LB
Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City.
Hemingway
D L
DL
Stumbo
P J
PJ
D000328:Adult; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000009:adverse effects; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D005223:Fats / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism*; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000378:metabolism*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*
D005223:Fats; D008894:Milk Proteins