Do ambient temperature and humidity influence the breast-milk intake of babies?

The physiological and glycaemic changes in breastfeeding women with type 1 diabetes mellitus

The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life (Australian institute of health and welfare, 2011). Breastfeeding confers many short- and long-term benefits for infants and mothers, including reduced childhood obesity and lower maternal body weight (Infant feeding survey, 2010; CDC National immunization surveys, 2012 and 2013; Sorkio et al., 2010; Hummel et al., 2014; Finkelstein et al., 2013). Exclusive breastfeeding is also recommended in women with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), for at least four months (Nucci et al., 2017). However, the impact of breastfeeding on mothers with T1DM, and, conversely, the impact of maternal T1DM on breastfeeding, is not clear. This review summarizes current knowledge regarding the epidemiology and physiology of breastfeeding in women with T1DM. In particular, it highlights the relationship between breastfeeding and glycaemia. Potential areas for future research are also identified.

Effects of early extra fluid and food intake on breast milk consumption and infant nutritional status at 5 months of age in an urban and a rural area of Burkina Faso

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effects of early extra fluid and food intake on breast milk consumption and the effects of food intake on 5-month-old infant nutritional status.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional surveys. Infants were selected by random choice.

SETTINGS

Urban and rural Burkina Faso.

SUBJECTS

A total of 97 urban and 69 rural infants were recruited, but 67 and 51, respectively, completed the surveys. Infant selection criteria were: age (5 +/- 0.5-month old), thriving, breastfed, having Burkinabè parents in study area for a year, study conditions accepted by parents.

INTERVENTION

Surveys were conducted respectively in January and February 2001 (urban), and 2002 (rural) during the cool season. They were performed by home visit. With the help of health workers and traditional midwives, families were informed of the studies' objectives and gave agreement. Food intakes were estimated by test-weighing for breast milk and precise weighing techniques for other foods. Socioeconomic status of households, anthropometry of infants and mothers were also recorded. Breast milk samples were collected from each mother's breast and analysed for lipid and fatty acid concentrations.

RESULTS

Daily breast milk intake did not differ between urban (776 +/- 262 g) and rural areas (835 +/- 265 g). Porridge intake was, respectively, 128 +/- 105 and 96 +/- 49 g. Median extra fluid intake was, respectively, 79 and 122 g. In both areas, porridge and fluid intake had no effect on breast milk consumption. In urban areas, infant nutritional status at 5 months was better than at birth.

CONCLUSION

Breast milk intake and nutritional status of predominantly breastfed infants at 5 months of age, living in both urban and rural settings, were not affected by the consumption of extra fluid or food intake.

Daily dietary intake of copper, zinc, and selenium of exclusively breast-fed infants of middle-class women in Burundi, Africa

Copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se) in human milk of middle-class Burundian women during the first 10 mo of lactation have been determined. Wet acid digestion, using nitric and perchloric acids, and atomic absorption spectrometric analysis have been used. Daily intakes have been calculated and proven to decrease from 0.39 +/- 0.05 (colostrum) to 0.16 +/- 0.02 (mature milk), 2.3 +/- 0.3 (colostrum), to 1.2 +/- 0.2 mg (mature milk) and 10.9 +/- 1.5 (colostrum) to 5.3 +/- 0.8 micrograms (mature milk) for Cu, Zn, and Se, respectively. Since values for this African country are nonexistent, intake levels are compared with literature data and found to be somewhat higher than those observed in other poorly nourished countries. The recommended safe and adequate daily intake for infants of 0-6 mo of age, as proposed by the National Research Council of the USA, is only met for Burundian infants < 1 mo of age. The function of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) as essential trace elements has been known for quite a number of years (1). Also, selenium (Se) is a trace element essential for the activity of glutathione peroxidase (2) and type I iodothyronine 5-deiodinase (3). For all three elements, an adequate intake is necessary for satisfactory infant growth and development (4). In view of the almost total lack of relevant data on Burundi (Africa), we have determined Cu, Zn, and Se in human milk of middle-class Burundian women during the first 10 mo of lactation (5). The aim of this study is to assess infants' elemental intake for this country and compare this with literature data on trace elemental intake of exclusively breast-fed infants.

Selenium and human lactation in Australia: milk and blood selenium levels in lactating women, and selenium intakes of their breast-fed infants

A series of 20 mother-infant pairs were studied in Brisbane, Australia, at 6-12 weeks postpartum. The mean selenium concentration in maternal blood was 101 (SD +/- 19) ng/g and in maternal serum 81(+/- 15) ng/g; serum values appeared low in comparison with those reported for lactating women from Japan and the USA, but similar to those from Finland and from a previous Australian study. Breast milk selenium concentrations (11.9 +/- 3.5 ng/g) were also low by international standards, but not as low as in New Zealand or Scandinavia. There was no correlation between selenium concentrations in milk and blood (or serum). The infants' 24-h breast-milk intakes were 856 +/- 172 g, and their 24-h selenium intakes 10.7 +/- 4.1 micrograms (compared to the Australian RDI of 10 micrograms).