INFLUENCE OF BREAST-FEEDING AND COMPLEMENTARY FOOD ON GROWTH BETWEEN 5 AND 10 MONTHS

The aim of this study was to examine the nature of the association bet ween breastfeeding, complementary feeding and growth in a random sampl e of infants from Denmark, where the prevalence of breastfeeding is hi gh. A semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire and a questionnair e on breastfeeding duration and on weight and length measurements take n at the infant welfare visit at 5 and 10 months were sent to 590 fami lies with 10-month-old infants. A total of 339 infants with complete g rowth data were included in the analyses. When controlling for mid-par ental height and birth weight infants breastfed for greater than or eq ual to 7 months gained 198 g less in weight (p < 0.01) and 7 mm less i n length (p < 0.01) during the period from 5 to 10 months than infants breastfed for < 7 months. Controlling for these effects, the 10% of t he sample with the highest protein intake (i.e. greater than or equal to 16 energy percentage) gained 262 g more than those with a lower pro tein intake (p = 0.03). Infants breastfed for greater than or equal to 7 months received significantly less cow's milk (p < 0.01), and fewer meat-containing dishes (p < 0.05) and sweets or cakes (p < 0.01), whi ch may partly explain the effect of breastfeeding. The long-term conse quences of this moderate difference in growth velocity are unknown and the findings should not be used to advocate against breastfeeding dur ing late infancy.