Body Composition Changes in the First 6 Months of Life According to Method of Feeding. (May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Giannì, Maria Lorella; Roggero, Paola; Orsi, Anna; Piemontese, Pasqua; Garbarino, Francesca; Bracco, Beatrice; Garavaglia, Elisa; Agosti, Massimo; Mosca, Fabio
• Is Part Of: Journal of human lactation. Volume 30:Number 2(2014:May)
• Page Start: 148
• Page End: 155
• Publication Date: 2014-05
• Subjects: body composition -- breastfeeding -- breast milk -- full-term infants -- growth; Breastfeeding -- Periodicals; Lactation -- Periodicals; 612.664
• DOI: 10.1177/0890334413516196
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0890-3344

Abstract

Background: Early feeding choices may affect long-term health outcomes. Therefore, understanding body composition changes in healthy breastfed infants has become an important research focus. Objectives: The aims of this review were to investigate the body composition changes that occur during weight loss in breastfed term newborns and to examine body composition differences between exclusively/predominantly breastfed and exclusively formula-fed infants in the first 6 months of life. Methods: We performed a review of the existing literature using PubMed. We searched for studies published in English since January 1, 2000, that involved human infants ranging in age from birth to 6 months. We used the following MEDLINE Medical Subject Headings: ((breastfeeding) OR (infant formula)) AND ((body composition) OR (bioelectrical impedance) OR (absorptiometry, photon) OR (total body potassium) OR (isotope dilution) OR (air-displacement plethysmography)). Our search yielded 6 studies. Results: Two studies reported that newborn weight loss was due to a reduction in the quantity of both fat mass and fat-free mass. Three out of 4 articles that evaluated body composition changes according to method of feeding reported no differences in body composition between exclusively/predominantly breastfed and exclusively formula-fed infants in the first 4.5 months of life. One study reported that exclusively breastfed infants at 3 months of age and exclusively breastfed boys at 6 months of age had higher fat mass contents compared to exclusively formula-fed infants. Conclusion: Because of the limited number of studies available, larger studies are needed to clarify the differences in body composition between exclusively/predominantly breastfed and exclusively formula-fed infants.