American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 48, 44-49, Copyright © 1988 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc

ORIGINAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Energy metabolism, body composition, and milk production in healthy Swedish women during lactation

A Sadurskis, N Kabir, J Wager and E Forsum
Department of Medical Nutrition, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge University Hospital, Sweden.

Variables of relevance to energy requirements during reproduction were studied in 23 healthy lactating Swedish women. Body composition and resting metabolic rate (RMR) were studied before pregnancy and three times postpartum. Energy intake was studied before pregnancy and, together with breast-milk production, 2 mo postpartum. The women gained 5.8 +/- 4.2 kg fat during pregnancy and their average fat content was unchanged during the first 2 mo of lactation whereas a slight loss (1.7 +/- 4.2 kg) occurred during the following 4 mo. RMR increased slightly during lactation in spite of a decrease in fat-free body weight 2 and 6 mo postpartum. Energy intake increased during lactation (280 +/- 440 kcal/d). The women produced 740 +/- 150 g breast milk/d containing 0.64 +/- 0.08 kcal/g. The results indicate that current estimates of energy needs during lactation may be too high.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. P. Gunderson Breastfeeding After Gestational Diabetes Pregnancy: Subsequent obesity and type 2 diabetes in women and their offspring Diabetes Care, July 1, 2007; 30(Supplement_2): S161 - S168. [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. S Wosje and H. J Kalkwarf Lactation, weaning, and calcium supplementation: effects on body composition in postpartum women Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2004; 80(2): 423 - 429. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. F. Butte, W. W. Wong, and J. M. Hopkinson Energy Requirements of Lactating Women Derived from Doubly Labeled Water and Milk Energy Output J. Nutr., January 1, 2001; 131(1): 53 - 58. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				N. F Butte, J. M Hopkinson, N. Mehta, J. K Moon, and E O'B. Smith Adjustments in energy expenditure and substrate utilization during late pregnancy and lactation Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, February 1, 1999; 69(2): 299 - 307. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. AbuSabha and G. Greene Body Weight, Body Composition, and Energy Intake Changes in Breastfeeding Mothers J Hum Lact, June 1, 1998; 14(2): 119 - 124. [Abstract] [PDF]

				N. F. Butte and J. M. Hopkinson Body Composition Changes during Lactation Are Highly Variable among Women J. Nutr., February 1, 1998; 128(2): 381 - 381. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				P. E. Hartmann, J. L. Sherriff, and L. R. Mitoulas Homeostatic Mechanisms that Regulate Lactation during Energetic Stress J. Nutr., February 1, 1998; 128(2): 394 - 394. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				N. F. Butte, L. Barbosa, S. Villalpando, W. W. Wong, and E. O. Smith Total Energy Expenditure and Physical Activity Level of Lactating Mesoamerindians J. Nutr., February 1, 1997; 127(2): 299 - 305. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				U.E. MacIntyre and A R P Walker Lactation - How Important is it? The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, February 1, 1994; 114(1): 20 - 28. [Abstract] [PDF]