Associations of breastfeeding or formula feeding with infant anthropometry and body composition at 6 months. Issue 2 (3rd November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tahir, Muna J.; Ejima, Keisuke; Li, Peng; Demerath, Ellen W.; Allison, David B.; Fields, David A.
• Is Part Of: Maternal and child nutrition. Volume 17:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-11-03
• Subjects: anthropometry -- body composition -- breastfeeding -- childhood obesity -- early growth -- infant formula; Children -- Nutrition -- Periodicals; Infants -- Nutrition -- Periodicals; Pregnancy -- Nutritional aspects -- Periodicals; Breastfeeding -- Periodicals; 363.8083
• DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13105
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1740-8695

Abstract

Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the associations of mode of feeding with infant anthropometric and body composition variables at 6 months of age. We studied 259 infants whose exclusive mode of feeding (breast or formula) to 1 month was confirmed. Standard anthropometric characteristics of the infants (weight, length and weight‐for‐length z scores) were obtained, and body composition (total fat mass, fat‐free mass, trunk fat mass and body fat percent) was measured using dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) at 6 months (±12 days). General linear models were used to test the associations of mode of feeding with infant anthropometric and body composition variables at 6 months after adjustment for maternal and infant covariates. In this cohort of predominantly breastfed, White infants of highly educated mothers, fat‐free mass was lower ( P = .002), and trunk fat mass ( P = .032) and body fat percent ( P < .001) were greater in breastfed infants than in formula‐fed infants at 6 months of age. After adjustment for covariates, total fat‐free mass was significantly lower ( β = −372 g, [SE = 125, P = .003]), and body fat percent was significantly greater ( β = 3.30, [SE = 0.91, P < .001]) in breastfed infants than in formula‐fed infants. No other significant associations were observed. These findings support those of previous studies reporting greater fat‐free mass in formula‐fed infants during the first 6 months of life. Additional research is warranted to explore whether differences in infant body composition by mode of feeding persist throughout the life course and to assess causality.