Associations of breastfeeding or formula feeding with infant anthropometry and body composition at 6 months. 2021

Muna J Tahir, and Keisuke Ejima, and Peng Li, and Ellen W Demerath, and David B Allison, and David A Fields
Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

The objective of this study was to investigate the associations of mode of feeding with infant anthropometric and body composition variables at 6 months of age. We studied 259 infants whose exclusive mode of feeding (breast or formula) to 1 month was confirmed. Standard anthropometric characteristics of the infants (weight, length and weight-for-length z scores) were obtained, and body composition (total fat mass, fat-free mass, trunk fat mass and body fat percent) was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at 6 months (±12 days). General linear models were used to test the associations of mode of feeding with infant anthropometric and body composition variables at 6 months after adjustment for maternal and infant covariates. In this cohort of predominantly breastfed, White infants of highly educated mothers, fat-free mass was lower (P = .002), and trunk fat mass (P = .032) and body fat percent (P < .001) were greater in breastfed infants than in formula-fed infants at 6 months of age. After adjustment for covariates, total fat-free mass was significantly lower (β = -372 g, [SE = 125, P = .003]), and body fat percent was significantly greater (β = 3.30, [SE = 0.91, P < .001]) in breastfed infants than in formula-fed infants. No other significant associations were observed. These findings support those of previous studies reporting greater fat-free mass in formula-fed infants during the first 6 months of life. Additional research is warranted to explore whether differences in infant body composition by mode of feeding persist throughout the life course and to assess causality.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D007227 Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena Nutritional physiology of children from birth to 2 years of age. Infant Nutrition Physiology,Nutrition Physiology, Infant,Complementary Feeding,Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomenon,Infant Nutritional Physiology,Supplementary Feeding,Complementary Feedings,Feeding, Complementary,Feeding, Supplementary,Feedings, Complementary,Feedings, Supplementary,Nutritional Physiology, Infant,Physiology, Infant Nutrition,Physiology, Infant Nutritional,Supplementary Feedings
D001823 Body Composition The relative amounts of various components in the body, such as percentage of body fat. Body Compositions,Composition, Body,Compositions, Body
D001942 Breast Feeding The nursing of an infant at the breast. Breast Fed,Breastfed,Milk Sharing,Wet Nursing,Breast Feeding, Exclusive,Breastfeeding,Breastfeeding, Exclusive,Exclusive Breast Feeding,Exclusive Breastfeeding,Sharing, Milk
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000886 Anthropometry The technique that deals with the measurement of the size, weight, and proportions of the human or other primate body.
D041943 Infant Formula Formulations for the nutrition of infants that are substituted for BREAST MILK. Baby Formula,Baby Formulas,Formula, Baby,Formula, Infant,Formulas, Baby,Formulas, Infant,Infant Formulas

Related Publications

Muna J Tahir, and Keisuke Ejima, and Peng Li, and Ellen W Demerath, and David B Allison, and David A Fields
March 2012, The American journal of clinical nutrition,
Muna J Tahir, and Keisuke Ejima, and Peng Li, and Ellen W Demerath, and David B Allison, and David A Fields
January 2015, Infant mental health journal,
Muna J Tahir, and Keisuke Ejima, and Peng Li, and Ellen W Demerath, and David B Allison, and David A Fields
August 2017, The American journal of clinical nutrition,
Muna J Tahir, and Keisuke Ejima, and Peng Li, and Ellen W Demerath, and David B Allison, and David A Fields
August 2017, The Journal of pediatrics,
Muna J Tahir, and Keisuke Ejima, and Peng Li, and Ellen W Demerath, and David B Allison, and David A Fields
February 2004, Journal of advanced nursing,
Muna J Tahir, and Keisuke Ejima, and Peng Li, and Ellen W Demerath, and David B Allison, and David A Fields
August 2023, European journal of clinical nutrition,
Muna J Tahir, and Keisuke Ejima, and Peng Li, and Ellen W Demerath, and David B Allison, and David A Fields
March 2013, The practising midwife,
Muna J Tahir, and Keisuke Ejima, and Peng Li, and Ellen W Demerath, and David B Allison, and David A Fields
February 2014, Journal of human lactation : official journal of International Lactation Consultant Association,
Muna J Tahir, and Keisuke Ejima, and Peng Li, and Ellen W Demerath, and David B Allison, and David A Fields
August 2023, The American journal of clinical nutrition,
Copied contents to your clipboard!