title: Quality of growth in exclusively breast-fed infants in the first six months of life: an Italian study.
abstract: Nutrition in early life, growth, and subsequent health over a lifetime are significantly interrelated. The aim of this study was to assess body composition changes in exclusively breast-fed infants from birth up to 6 mo of age. An observational, prospective, cohort study was conducted. Fifty-nine full-term, healthy, exclusively breast-fed infants underwent assessment of growth and body composition, using air-displacement plethysmograph (i.e. PEA POD) by Life Measurement, Inc. (Concord, CA). Body composition was assessed at birth, 2 wk, and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 mo of age. Mean birth weight (g) and gestational age (wk) of the infants were 3170 ± 420 and 39.21 ± 1.29, respectively. Percentage of fat mass increased significantly over the first 4 mo (p < 0.001), both in boys and girls, with no differences detected between boys and girls at any time point. This article provides preliminary in-depth data on whole-body composition, in exclusively breast-fed infants during the first months of life. Further studies assessing larger sample sizes are desirable to develop reference body composition data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Pediatric Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Ca'Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan 20122, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roggero
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Giannì
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orsi
authors.forename: Pasqua
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piemontese
authors.forename: Orsola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Liotto
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morlacchi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Taroni
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Fields
authors.forename: Patrick M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mosca
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D001942:Breast Feeding; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies