Interrelation among dietary energy and fat intakes, maternal body fatness,and milk total lipid in humans

The relationship between maternal dietary intakes of energy or fat maternal body composition and the milk fat concentration is an important element in understanding the role of breastmilk in infant nutrition. In most studies in bath developing and developed countries, no relation between maternal en ergy intake and milk fat content was observed. In only one published study, in which maternal fat intake comprised a very low 5% of calories, was a sh ort term reduction in milk lipid observed in some subjects. On the other hand, a positive relation between maternal fatness and milk fa t is evident in both well-nourished and under-nourished women when appropri ate methodologies have been used. Low milk fat concentrations are associate d with higher milk volumes probably because infant demand determines milk i ntake, compensating, at least partially, for low milk fat. No impairment of infant growth was associated with low milk fat, in studies where it has be en measured. The mechanism for the relationship between body fat and milk f at is a fertile field for additional investigation.