THE CALORIC DEMAND OF LACTATION DOES NOT ALTER SPONTANEOUS MEAL PATTERNS, NUTRIENT INTAKES, OR MOODS OF WOMEN

The regulation of food and fluid intake in lactating women was examine d by comparing maternal intake during lactation, 6 weeks postpartum, t o intake in two groups of nonpregnant, nonlactating women. All subject s completed a questionnaire and then filled out a food-intake diary fo r seven consecutive days. Lactating women did not differ from body wei ght-matched, nonlactating controls in their total daily intakes or the ir meal patterns. However, they consumed a significantly smaller perce ntage of the recommended dietary allowances (RDA) per day than did the ir nonlactating counterparts. Lactating women were also significantly more calm both pre- and postmeal than were either of the control group s. These results indicate that the lactating women, at 6 weeks postpar tum, did not increase their intake to compensate for the caloric deman ds of lactation. This may indicate that the lactating women catabolize weight gained during pregnancy faster than accounted for in the RDA, or that lactating women increase their metabolic efficiency.