QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Villalpando, S. Articles by López-Alarcón, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Villalpando, S. Articles by López-Alarcón, M.

---

Article

Growth Faltering Is Prevented by Breast-Feeding in Underprivileged Infants from Mexico City

Unidad de Investigación Médica en Nutrición, Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico, D.F.

¹To whom correspondence should be addressed.

This study was designed to test whether breast-feeding protects infants reared in unfavorable environments from growth-stunting by averting acute infections. The body weight and length, feeding mode and morbidity of 170 healthy infants were assessed at 15-d intervals from birth to 6 mo. Birth weight and length were not different between groups, but at 6 mo, breast-fed infants were heavier and tended to be taller (P = 0.1) than infants fed formula. Relative to NCHS values, infants had lower mean birth weights than a sample of American and European BF infants. At 6 mo, the weight of BF infants caught up to the weight of NCHS standards, while infants fed formula fell to around –1 NCHS-Z-score for weight and length. The cumulative 6-mo weight increments were negatively related to the number of episodes of diarrhea, and positively to duration of lactation (P = 0.03, R² = 0.17). The 6-mo length gain was negatively related to infections but not to duration of lactation (P = 0.004, R² = 0.19). Never-ill infants attained a better weight (P = 0.04) and length (P = 0.02) than infants who suffered one or more episodes of diarrhea. Weight and length gain of infants suffering at least one episode of diarrhea was positively related to breast-feeding and socioeconomic status. Weight increments of 15-d were positively related to breast-feeding and negatively to the introduction of solids. In conclusion, breast-feeding positively affected the growth performance of the recipient infants by averting infections and possibly by improving nutrient intake during infections.

KEY WORDS: • breast-feeding • weight • length • infection infant

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A MacDonald Is breast best? Is early solid feeding harmful? Perspectives in Public Health, September 1, 2003; 123(3): 169 - 174. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. B Simondon, F. Simondon, R. Costes, V. Delaunay, and A. Diallo Breast-feeding is associated with improved growth in length, but not weight, in rural Senegalese toddlers Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 2001; 73(5): 959 - 967. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Amigo, P. Bustos, C. Leone, and M. E. Radrigán Growth Deficits in Chilean School Children J. Nutr., February 1, 2001; 131(2): 251 - 254. [Abstract] [Full Text]