Breastfeeding is common in developing countries, but exclusive breastfeeding is rare, and complementary foods are introduced at an early age. The objective of the present study is to determine the effect of early complementary feeding on the nutritional status of infants. Weight-for-age (WA) indices have been determined for 82 infants 3 to 4 months old participating in a breastfeeding study. They included 42 that started complementary feeding early (before 2 months) and 40 that started later. Weight-for-age indices were significantly lower for the early group than for the later group (t = 3.00, p = 0.004). The prevalence of underweight (WA SD scores below -2.0) was 7.5% in the later complementary feeding group and 28.6% in the early group (chi(2) = 4.76, p = 0.0292). Severe underweight (WA SD scores below -3.0) prevalences were 0% and 14.3% respectively (p = 0.0259). Thus, poorer nutritional status was significantly associated with earlier complementary feeding. The results suggest that exclusive breastfeeding, (together with promotion of weaning education and growth monitoring) should be vigorously promoted in these rural communities.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/026010609701200103 | DOI Listing |
Nutrients
January 2025
Department of Maternal-Fetal Biology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo 157-8535, Japan.
Background/objectives: The DNA methylation of neonatal cord blood can be used to accurately estimate gestational age. This is known as epigenetic gestational age. The greater the difference between epigenetic and chronological gestational age, the greater the association with an inappropriate perinatal fetal environment and development.
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January 2025
School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
Background: Whilst it is inconvenient and time-intensive, predominantly (PP) and exclusively pumping (EP) mothers rely on breast expression to provide milk for their infants and to ensure continued milk supply, yet these populations are poorly understood.
Methods: We assessed and characterised Western Australian PP mothers ( = 93) regarding 24 h milk production (MP) and infant milk intake and demographics, perinatal complications and breastfeeding difficulties, the frequencies of which were compared with published general population frequencies. Pumping efficacy and milk flow parameters during a pumping session in PP mothers ( = 32) were compared with those that pump occasionally (reference group, = 60).
Nutrients
January 2025
Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, CA 91330, USA.
Background: Maternal obesity may contribute to childhood obesity in a myriad of ways, including through alterations of the infant gut microbiome. For example, maternal obesity may contribute both directly by introducing a dysbiotic microbiome to the infant and indirectly through the altered composition of human milk that fuels the infant gut microbiome. In particular, indigestible human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are known to shape the composition of the infant gut microbiome.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNutrients
January 2025
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain.
Maternal nutrition during pregnancy plays a pivotal role in influencing both maternal and fetal health, impacting neonatal anthropometric outcomes and long-term disease susceptibility. An advanced maternal age (AMA ≥ 35 years) has been linked to increased risks of obstetric complications and adverse neonatal outcomes, yet its specific nutritional profile remains underexplored. : This study aimed to evaluate the nutrient and polyphenol intakes of women at an AMA compared to those of a younger control group and to investigate associations with neonatal anthropometric measures.
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January 2025
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
Background/objectives: While studies in rat pups suggest that early zinc exposure is critical for optimal brain structure and function, associations of prenatal zinc intake with measures of brain development in infants are unknown. This study aimed to assess the associations of maternal zinc intake during pregnancy with MRI measures of brain tissue microstructure and neurodevelopmental outcomes, as well as to determine whether MRI measures of the brain mediated the relationship between maternal zinc intake and neurodevelopmental indices.
Methods: Forty-one adolescent mothers were recruited for a longitudinal study during pregnancy.
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