Growth and morbidity of breast-fed and artificially-fed infants in urban south Indian families.

Infants who had 5 or more breastfeeds a day more than doubled their birth weight by 14 weeks in a group of full term normal infants born between April and September 1983 at Christian Medical College Hospital Vellore India and seen at 6 10 14 18 and 22 weeks of age. These infants gained in excess of 20 g per day till the eighteenth week and 17 g per day between 18 and 22 weeks of age. The mainly breast-fed infant was significantly heavier than the infant given mostly artificial food when assessed at each visit during the study period. The growth rate till 10 weeks was significantly greater in the breastfeed group than in the mostly artificial food group. A deceleration of growth was observed in both groups after 14 weeks of age. Diarrheal disease was more common in infants given formula feeds. (authors modified)