Quality of growth in exclusively breast-fed infants in the first six months of life: an Italian study.
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.
Roggero
Paola
P
Department of Maternal and Pediatric Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Ca'Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan 20122, Italy.
Giannì
Maria L
ML
Orsi
Anna
A
Piemontese
Pasqua
P
Amato
Orsola
O
Liotto
Nadia
N
Morlacchi
Laura
L
Taroni
Francesca
F
Fields
David A
DA
Catalano
Patrick M
PM
Mosca
Fabio
F
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