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Maternal diet inadequacies influence the nutrient profile of breast milk, affecting preterm infant growth and health outcomes.
Human milk quality depends on maternal diet, yet mothers of very preterm infants are rarely studied. This study examined maternal intake, nutrient status, and associations with breast milk composition compared to milk donors.
A 5-day dietary record, including supplement intake, was finished by 15 mothers of hospitalized very preterm infants (MHVPIs) and 110 human milk donors (HMDs). Researchers measured vitamins and fatty acids in plasma and erythrocytes, minerals and methylmalonic acid in urine, and analyzed macronutrients, vitamins, minerals, and lipid profiles in human milk, linking maternal nutrition to milk composition.
Assessment against dietary reference standards showed that MHVPIs had widespread nutrient shortfalls, especially in total energy, iodine, and vitamins B8, B9, C, D, and E. Their diets were high in protein and fat but low in carbohydrates. Overall, dietary patterns were similar to those of HMDs. Importantly, maternal group differences were linked to variations in protein, key micronutrients, and fatty acids in breast milk, regardless of intake or maternal nutritional status.
The research established that maternal nutrient gaps are pervasive, emphasizing the need for focused dietary strategies to ensure optimal nutrient delivery through breast milk and safeguard preterm infant development.
Nutrients
Nutrient Intake and Plasma and Erythrocyte Content Among Lactating Mothers of Hospitalized Very Preterm Infants: Associations with Human Milk Composition
Kristin Keller et al.
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