Infant feeding mode affects early growth and body composition.

BACKGROUND Differences in the growth pattern of breastfed (BF) and formula-fed (FF) infants are well-recognized and have been attributed to differences in nutrient intake. However, the impact of qualitative and quantitative differences in nutrient intake on the body composition of BF and FF infants has been unclear. Furthermore, it is unknown whether putative differences in body composition persist beyond weaning. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. METHODS Repeated anthropometric and body composition measurements were performed on 40 BF and 36 FF infants at 0.5, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months of age. A multicomponent body composition model based on total body water by deuterium dilution, total body potassium by whole body counting, and bone mineral content by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry was used to estimate fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM). Independent measurements of FFM and FM were made using total body electrical conductivity and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. By design, infants were either exclusively BF or FF from birth to 4 months of age; thereafter, the feeding mode was at the discretion of the parents. Infant food intake was measured at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months of age using 3-day weighed-intake records. Data were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance. RESULTS Weight velocity was higher in FF than BF infants age 3 to 6 months, and higher in FF than BF girls 6 to 9 months of age. Adjusted for gender and baseline values, BF infants had lower total body water at 3 months, lower total body potassium at 3 to 24 months, and lower bone mineral content at 12 months. The multicomponent model indicated that FFM was lower in BF than FF infants at 3 months, and FM and %FM were higher in BF than FF infants at 3 and 6 months (boys only). Total body electric conductivity confirmed lower FFM in BF than FF infants at 3 months, as well as at 6 and 9 months; FM and %FM were higher in BF than FF at 3 and 6 months, and 9 months (boys only). Intakes of energy, protein, fat, and carbohydrate were lower in BF than FF infants at 3 and 6 months, and were positively correlated with weight gain and FFM gain, but not FM gain. No differences in nutrient intakes were observed at 12 or 24 months. CONCLUSION Infant feeding mode is associated with differences in body composition in early infancy which do not persist into the second year of life.

[1]  Berthold Koletzko,et al.  Breast feeding and obesity: cross sectional study , 1999, BMJ.

[2]  B. Specker,et al.  Trial on timing of introduction to solids and food type on infant growth. , 1998, Pediatrics.

[3]  K. Dewey.  Growth Characteristics of Breast-Fed Compared to Formula-Fed Infants , 1998, Neonatology.

[4]  K. Westerterp,et al.  Energy utilization and growth in breast-fed and formula-fed infants measured prospectively during the first year of life. , 1998, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[5]  W. Wong,et al.  Human milk protein does not limit growth of breast-fed infants. , 1997, Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition.

[6]  N. Butte.  Energy requirements of infants. , 1996, European journal of clinical nutrition.

[7]  K. Michaelsen,et al.  Growth of breast-fed infants deviates from current reference data: a pooled analysis of US, Canadian, and European data sets. World Health Organization Working Group on Infant Growth. , 1995, Pediatrics.

[8]  W. Pond,et al.  Accuracy of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry for body-composition measurements in children. , 1994, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[9]  B. Thomsen,et al.  The Copenhagen Cohort Study on Infant Nutrition and Growth: breast-milk intake, human milk macronutrient content, and influencing factors. , 1994, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[10]  M. Heinig,et al.  Use of growth models to describe patterns of length, weight, and head circumference among breast-fed and formula-fed infants: the DARLING Study. , 1993, Human biology.

[11]  P. Klein,et al.  The use of cotton balls to collect infant urine samples for 2H/1H and 18O/16O isotope ratio measurements. , 1993, Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine.

[12]  B. Lonnerdal,et al.  Energy and protein intakes of breast-fed and formula-fed infants during the first year of life and their association with growth velocity: the DARLING Study. , 1993, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[13]  M. Heinig,et al.  Breast-fed infants are leaner than formula-fed infants at 1 y of age: the DARLING study. , 1993, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[14]  M. Heinig,et al.  Growth of breast-fed and formula-fed infants from 0 to 18 months: the DARLING Study. , 1992, Pediatrics.

[15]  S. Broyles,et al.  Infant-feeding practices and adiposity in 4-y-old Anglo- and Mexican-Americans. , 1992, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[16]  T. Baranowski,et al.  Ethnicity, Infant‐Feeding Practices, and Childhood Adiposity , 1990, Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP.

[17]  M. Toyomizu,et al.  Body protein and energy accretion in response to dietary protein level in mice from weaning to maturity. , 1989, The Journal of nutrition.

[18]  T. Cole,et al.  Diet and the growth of healthy infants , 1989 .

[19]  R. Shepherd,et al.  Longitudinal study of the body composition of weight gain in exclusively breast-fed and intake-measured whey-based formula-fed infants to age 3 months. , 1988, Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition.

[20]  G. Harrison,et al.  Growth and adiposity of term infants fed whey-predominant or casein-predominant formulas or human milk. , 1987, Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition.

[21]  J. Noblet,et al.  Effect of protein and lysine levels in the diet on body gain composition and energy utilization in growing pigs. , 1987, Journal of animal science.

[22]  P. Klein,et al.  Deuterium and oxygen-18 measurements on microliter samples of urine, plasma, saliva, and human milk. , 1987, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[23]  M. Gracey,et al.  The Growth of Breast Fed and Artificially Fed Infants from Birth to Twelve Months , 1985, Acta paediatrica Scandinavica.

[24]  M. Siimes,et al.  Exclusively Breast-Fed Healthy Infants Grow Slower than Reference Infants , 1985, Pediatric Research.

[25]  R. Rogers,et al.  Indices of Fatness and Serum Cholesterol at Age Eight Years in Relation to Feeding and Growth during Early Infancy , 1984, Pediatric Research.

[26]  B. Nichols,et al.  Human milk intake and growth in exclusively breast-fed infants. , 1984, The Journal of pediatrics.

[27]  W. Mortensson,et al.  Food Intake and Growth of Infants between Six and Twenty‐six Weeks of Age on Breast Milk, Cow's Milk Formula, or Soy Formula , 1984, Acta paediatrica Scandinavica.

[28]  R. Campbell,et al.  The influence of protein nutrition in early life on growth and development of the pig , 1983, British Journal of Nutrition.

[29]  F. Haschke,et al.  Body composition of reference children from birth to age 10 years. , 1982, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[30]  M. Kramer.  Do breast-feeding and delayed introduction of solid foods protect against subsequent obesity? , 1981, The Journal of pediatrics.

[31]  D. W. Roberts.  Growth of breast fed and bottle fed infants. , 1980, The New Zealand medical journal.

[32]  D. Hosmer,et al.  The effect of feeding on fat deposition in early infancy. , 1979, Pediatrics.

[33]  S. D'Souza,et al.  A study of infant growth in relation to the type of feeding. , 1979, Early human development.

[34]  M. Siimes,et al.  ROLE OF PROLONGED BREAST FEEDING IN INFANT GROWTH , 1979, Acta paediatrica Scandinavica.

[35]  C. Glueck,et al.  Where do the heaviest children come from? A prospective study of white children from birth to 5 years of age. , 1979, Pediatrics.

[36]  J. Oakley.  Differences in subcutaneous fat in breast- and formula-fed infants. , 1977, Archives of disease in childhood.

[37]  M. Flynn,et al.  A Longitudinal Study of Total Body Potassium in Normal Breastfed and Bottle-fed Infants , 1976, Pediatric Research.

[38]  K. Jeejeebhoy,et al.  Determination of fecal fats containing both medium and long chain triglycerides and fatty acids. , 1970, Clinical biochemistry.

[39]  D. Southgate,et al.  The intake and excretion of calorific constituents of milk by babies , 1966, British Journal of Nutrition.

[40]  W. M. Wallace,et al.  THE EFFECT OF VARIABLE FOOD INTAKES ON GROWTH AND BODY COMPOSITION * † , 1963, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

[41]  L. Filer,et al.  RELATIONSHIP OF BODY COMPOSITION, CHEMICAL MATURATION, HOMEOSTASIS, AND DIET IN THE NEWBORN MAMMAL , 1963, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

[42]  J. E. Slater.  Retentions of nirogen and minerals by babies 1 week old , 1961, British Journal of Nutrition.

[43]  S. J. Fomon,et al.  Metabolic studies of normal full-term infants fed a prepared formula providing intermediate amounts of protein. , 1958, Pediatrics.

[44]  R. Mccance,et al.  The response of the new‐born piglet to an excess of potassium , 1958, The Journal of physiology.

[45]  R. Mccance,et al.  Physiology of the newborn animal. , 1957, Lancet.

[46]  R. Bellù,et al.  Total body electrical conductivity derived measurement of the body composition of breast or formula-fed infants at 12 months , 1997 .

[47]  M. Fiorotto,et al.  Total Body Electrical Conductivity Measurements: An Evaluation of Current Instrumentation for Infants , 1995, Pediatric Research.

[48]  M. Fiorotto,et al.  Influence of early feeding mode on body composition of infants. , 1995, Biology of the neonate.

[49]  P. Klein,et al.  In vivo isotope-fractionation factors and the measurement of deuterium- and oxygen-18-dilution spaces from plasma, urine, saliva, respiratory water vapor, and carbon dioxide. , 1988, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[50]  B. Nichols,et al.  Macro- and trace-mineral intakes of exclusively breast-fed infants. , 1987, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[51]  Buckfield Pm,et al.  Lack of long-term effect of the method of infant feeding on growth. , 1985 .

[52]  A. McGowan,et al.  Skinfold thickness in neonates. , 1974, Biology of the neonate.