American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 55, 1109-1116, Copyright © 1992 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc

ORIGINAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Human milk intake and growth faltering of rural Mesoamerindian infants

NF Butte, S Villalpando, WW Wong, S Flores-Huerta, MJ Hernandez-Beltran, EO Smith and C Garza
USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030.

To determine whether growth faltering during early infancy was attributable to inadequate intake of human milk, the nutrient intakes and growth of 30 Otomi infants from Capulhuac, Mexico, were studied at 4 or 6 mo of age. Growth was monitored monthly from 1 through 6 mo of age. The 2H dose-to-the-mother method was used to measure human milk intake. Energy, protein, lactose, and fat concentrations in milk were analyzed by standard techniques. Mean (+/- SD) human milk intakes were 885 +/- 145 and 869 +/- 150 g/d at 4 and 6 mo, respectively. Protein and lactose concentrations in milk were normal but fat and consequently energy concentrations were abnormally low. Energy intakes averaged 81 +/- 14 kcal.kg-1.d-1 at 4 mo and 72 +/- 14 kcal.kg-1.d-1 at 6 mo. Growth faltering by 6 mo was evidenced by the significant decline in growth velocities and National Center for Health Statistics Z scores. Weight gain at 6 mo was 8.1 +/- 3.5 g/d and length gain was 1.0 +/- 0.34 cm/mo. Weight-for-age and length-for-age Z scores were -0.81 +/- 0.94 and -1.51 +/- 0.83, respectively. Growth velocities were not significantly correlated with nutrient intakes. Growth faltering among the Otomi infants despite energy intakes comparable to those of breast- fed infants in more protected environments may have resulted from an increase in the need for nutrients or from a growth-limiting nutrient, other than energy, in their diet.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Khambalia, M. E. Latulippe, C. Campos, C. Merlos, S. Villalpando, M. F. Picciano, and D. L. O'Connor Milk Folate Secretion Is Not Impaired during Iron Deficiency in Humans J. Nutr., October 1, 2006; 136(10): 2617 - 2624. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Villalpando, M. E Latulippe, G. Rosas, M. J. Irurita, M. F. Picciano, and D. L O'Connor Milk folate but not milk iron concentrations may be inadequate for some infants in a rural farming community in San Mateo, Capulhuac, Mexico Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, October 1, 2003; 78(4): 782 - 789. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. S. Marquis, M. E. Penny, J. P. Zimmer, J. M. Diaz, and R. M. Marin An Overlap of Breastfeeding during Late Pregnancy Is Associated with Subsequent Changes in Colostrum Composition and Morbidity Rates among Peruvian Infants and Their Mothers J. Nutr., August 1, 2003; 133(8): 2585 - 2591. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Albernaz, C. G. Victora, H. Haisma, A. Wright, and W. A. Coward Lactation Counseling Increases Breast-Feeding Duration but Not Breast Milk Intake as Measured by Isotopic Methods J. Nutr., January 1, 2003; 133(1): 205 - 210. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. E Arifeen, R. E Black, L. E Caulfield, G. Antelman, A. H Baqui, Q. Nahar, S. Alamgir, and H. Mahmud Infant growth patterns in the slums of Dhaka in relation to birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation, and prematurity Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, October 1, 2000; 72(4): 1010 - 1017. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]