BREAST-MILK OR ANIMAL-PRODUCT FOODS IMPROVE LINEAR GROWTH OF PERUVIANTODDLERS CONSUMING MARGINAL DIETS

Although breast-feeding is widely accepted as important for infant hea lth, its benefits during the second year of life have been questioned. We analyzed data from 107 breast-fed and weaned Peruvian children Liv ing in a periurban community to determine whether breast milk contribu ted to improved linear growth between 12 and 15 mo of age. Breast-feed ing frequency was self-reported; intakes of complementary foods and an imal products were estimated from a food-frequency survey. Multivariat e-linear-regression analysis was used to predict the length of the chi ldren at 15 mo of age. Determinants of length included length and weig ht-for-length at 12 mo of age (US National Center for Health Statistic s standards), interval between 12- and 15-mo measurements, breast-feed ing frequency, incidence of diarrhea, and intakes of complementary and animal-product foods. Complementary foods, animal-product foods, and breast milk all promoted toddlers' linear growth. In subjects with low intakes of animal-product foods, breast-feeding was positively associ ated (P < 0.05) with linear growth. There was a 0.5-cm/3 mo difference in linear growth between weaned toddlers and children who consumed th e average number of feedings of breast milk. Linear growth was also po sitively associated with intake of animal-product foods in children wi th low intakes of complementary foods. The negative association betwee n diarrhea and linear growth did not occur in subjects with high compl ementary-food intakes. When the family's diet is low in quality, breas t milk is an especially important source of energy, protein, and accom panying micronutrients in young children. Thus, continued breast-feedi ng after 1 y of age, in conjunction with feeding of complementary food s, should be encouraged in toddlers living in poor circumstances.