SUBCUTANEOUS FAT CHANGES IN LOW-INCOME LACTATING MOTHERS AND GROWTH OF BREAST-FED INFANTS

Objective: We studied changes in body fat of lactating mothers and its relationship to milk fat and growth of exclusively breast-fed infants during the first 3 months of life. Method: Changes in body fat measur ed by body mass index (BMI) and skinfold thickness (triceps, suprailia c, subscapular, pectoral) of 39 low socioeconomic status women were me asured every 15 days during the first 3 months postpartum. Milk fat co ncentrations and growth of exclusively breast-fed infants were followe d at the same intervals. Attained growth (ponderal and linear) of infa nts was analyzed through multivariate analyses against changes in mate rnal adiposity (BMI and sum of skinfolds), weight, and milk fat concen trations. Results: There was a decrease in maternal skinfold thickness from the 15th day postpartum. Milk fat concentrations decreased signi ficantly only at the second month of lactation. Conclusion: Statistica l model adjustments for duration of study, milk fat concentration, and birth weight of infants explained 88% of variance in infant growth (r (2) = 0.886, p = 0.0001).