Immediate effect of food intake by the nursing mother on the macronutrient content of colostrum

Nascimento, Regina C.F.A.; Hochman, Virgínia G.A.; Silva, Camila B.M. da; Valle, Bernardo V. do; Amaral, Yasmin N.di V. do; Dolinsky, Manuela; Vieira, Alan A.

doi:10.1016/j.jped.2025.03.004

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Original article • J. Pediatr. (Rio J.) 101 (4) • 2025 • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jped.2025.03.004 linkcopy

Immediate effect of food intake by the nursing mother on the macronutrient content of colostrum

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

Objective Human milk has a dynamic composition that is ideal for the needs of infants. However, the factors that affect the nutritional content of human milk are still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the immediate effect of maternal food intake (lunch) on the macronutrient composition of colostrum.

Methods This prospective study performed a paired analysis of macronutrient concentrations in the colostrum of healthy postpartum women. Three milliliters of colostrum were collected from 65 participants 30 min before and 2 h after a meal (lunch) by manual expression. The nutritional content of the meal was similar for all mothers. Colostrum analysis was performed using a Human Milk Analyzer (Miris®).

Results The fat content was significantly higher in colostrum samples collected 2 h after lunch than in those collected 30 mins before lunch (2.3 ± 1.1 vs. 2.8 ± 1.4 g %, p = 0.002). No significant differences were observed in the protein (1.9 ± 0.7 vs. 1.9 ± 1.0) and carbohydrate (6.4 ± 0.8 vs. 6.4 ± 0.8) content.

Conclusions Two hours after the mother had lunch, the colostrum fat concentration increased by 20 %.

Keywords
Human milk; Colostrum; Macronutrients, maternal nutrition; Diet and nutrition

	Mean ± SD N = 65	Range
Maternal age (years)	23 ± 4	16-31
Maternal education (years)	10 ± 3	3-15
Income (dollars/year)	4.164 ± 2.950	960-13.850
Parity	2 ± 1	1-7
Number of prenatal appointments	8 ± 3	2-17
Weight gain during pregnancy (kg)	11.6 ± 5.0	1.6-20.6
Body mass index (kg/m²)	30 ± 5	20-46
Infant birth weight (g)	3.250 ± 580	2.130-4.470
Gestational age (weeks)	39 ± 1	37-41

	Pre-prandial period n:65		Post-prandial period n:65
Macronutrients	Mean ± SD	Median (IQR)	Mean ± SD	Median (IQR)	p value
Carbohydrates (g/dL)	6.4 ± 0.8	6.5 (6.2-6.9)	6.4 ± 0.8	6.5 (6.3-6.8)	0.930
Protein (g/dL)	1.9 ± 0.7	1.6 (1.5-1.9)	1.9 ± 1.0	1.6 (1.4-1.8)	0.767
Lipids (g/dL)	2.3 ± 1.1	2.1 (1.4-3.0)	2.8 ± 1.4	2.6 (1.6-3.2)	0.002
Calories (kcal/dL)	57.1 ± 11.6	55 (49-63)	61.7 ± 15.6	58 (53-66)	0.010

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