Breastfeeding is a gold standard of feeding of newborns and infants. Tandem breastfeeding (TBF) is feeding two children of different ages at the same time. The knowledge about the composition of human milk in prolonged lactation is still scarce. Milk from tandem breastfeeding women and after weaning was examined. Milk samples were collected from 13 TBF mothers. A 24-h milk collection was done. Analyses of fat, protein, carbohydrate and energy content were performed using MIRIS. Sociodemographic characteristics of TBF mothers was done. Higher fat content, energy value and total protein concentration was found in TBFM milk during tandem breastfeeding, than in milk after weaning the older child. The carbohydrate content remained stable. The composition of breastmilk, in terms of macronutrients, changes after weaning, taking into account the nutritional requirements of the younger child. The milk of nursing mothers in tandem did not show diurnal variability in individual components. These findings suggest an adaptive role of human milk to nutrient requirements of newborn and older children. The results may support the promotion of long breastfeeding, including tandem breastfeeding.
Breast milk is the optimal food for infants and toddlers, providing basic nutrients. It is also a source of many biologically active substances. Among them are hormones responsible for metabolic balance. One of the hormones taken in with breast milk by a breastfed baby is leptin. This hormone is involved in the regulation of appetite, informing the brain about the body’s energy resources. Having the correct mechanisms related to the action of leptin is a factor reducing the risk of obesity. The natural presence of leptin in the composition of breast milk suggests that it has a specific role in shaping the health of a breastfed child. Obesity as a disease of civilization affects more and more people, including children. The development of this disease is multifaceted and determined by many factors, including genetic and environmental factors such as eating habits and low physical activity. Behind obesity, there are complex mechanisms in which many elements of the human body are involved. Understanding the effects of breastfeeding as a natural source of leptin can help prevent childhood obesity and development of this disease in future life.
Background The hormonally active form of vitamin D generates a number of extraskeletal biological responses, which significantly influences body's homeostasis. The evaluation of vitamin D concentration and supplementing deficiency for breastfeeding women are crucial to maintain good health. The purpose of the study was to measure vitamin D concentration in serum and milk of breastfeeding women, including the influence of supplementation. Hypothesis: Most of breastfeeding women are deficient in vitamin D. Material and methods Blood and breast milk samples were collected consecutively from 46 healthy, non‐obese, Caucasian, breastfeeding women at different stages of lactation. The LC‐MS/MS method was applied for the measurements of vitamin D. Serum and breast milk vitamin D concentrations in the form of 25(OH)D₂, 25(OH)D₃ and total 25(OH)D were measured in Polish breastfeeding women. Results Serum total 25(OH)D concentrations ranged from 50.2 to 115.7 nmol/L (mean value 75.8±15.5 nmol/L), while breast milk 25(OH)D₃ concentrations ranged between 0.03‐1.78 nmol/L (0.64±0.42 nmol/L). More than a half of the examined women (52%) supplement vitamin D using different medications and half of the women showed insufficient (50‐75 nmol/L) serum levels of total 25(OH)D. There were no correlations between maternal serum total 25(OH)D concentration and 25(OH)D₃ in breast milk concentration (R=0.27 p=0.07). Breast milk 25(OH)D₃ concentrations were correlated to the duration of breastfeeding (R=0.54 p=0.0002). The median milk 25(OH)D₃ concentration in mothers breastfeeding for more than 9 months was significantly higher (p<0.0005) when compared to women who were breastfeeding for less than 9 months (0.78 vs 0.33 nmol/L). Conclusions Exactly half of the examined women in the reproductive period have deficiency of vitamin D. It seems that vitamin D supplementation is an important element in maintaining the optimal concentration of this vitamin in the body. Prolonged breastfeeding (more than 9 months) affects the concentrations of 25(OH)D₃ in human milk.
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