Nutrient Intakes from Food of Lactating Women Do Not Meet Many Dietary Recommendations Important for Infant Development and Maternal Health

Abstract

Literature describing dietary intakes of lactating mothers in the United States (US) is limited and none of the existing studies attempts to identify whether dietary shortcomings of lactating mothers are distinct from those of women of childbearing age in the US. The first objective of this observational study was to comprehensively analyze the dietary intakes of lactating mothers in the US to determine whether nutrient intakes from food were sufficient to meet recommendations. The second objective was to compare these intakes to those of women of childbearing age in the US. Weekly 3-day food records were collected from subjects for six weeks in 2012-2013. Subject mean daily intakes of food groups, macronutrients, vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, and specific fats including omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids were determined and compared to daily recommendations. Intakes were compared to US women using the 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Fruit, vegetable, and dairy intakes of mothers were ≤50% of recommendations, resulting in 12 of 26 analyzed vitamins or minerals including potassium, iodine, chromium, choline, and vitamins A, D, and E having mean daily intakes below the Estimated Average Requirement. Vitamin D intake of subjects was 18% lower than US women, while most other nutrients showed intakes within 10% of each other between populations. Lactating women are not meeting the increased dietary needs associated with breastfeeding, supporting education initiatives and interventions specifically tailored to breastfeeding populations to increase intakes of vitamin D, vitamin E, iodine, biotin, carotenoids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids from food.

Analysis of food sources and nutrient intakes of selected breastfeeding mothers in Metro Manila, Philippines

“…Furthermore, a previous report shows that severe thiamine deficiency leads to reduced infant growth [ 29 ]. The results of this study are aligned with previous studies and surveys, in which suboptimal energy and nutrient intakes are reported in breastfeeding mothers emphasizing the vulnerability of breastfeeding mothers to energy and nutrient inadequacies despite the increased nutrient requirements during this stage of life [ 30 – 33 ].…”

Mineral and Vitamin Intakes of Latvian Women during Lactation Period

“…This could explain why phosphorus intake reached the recommend intake among the majority of the study participants. Also, other studies point that phosphorus intake among lactating women reaches the recommended intake and usually exceeds 1000 mg per day [11,12,23,24].…”

“…Although potassium can be easily consumed by including plant-based food products (fresh and dried fruits, legumes, green leafy vegetables, etc.) in their diet [20], studies from the United States [12] and Poland [23] have report potassium intake among lactating women to be lower than that recommended by the national nutrition guidelines. Although previous data indicate that potassium rich sources such as vegetables, legumes, fruits and berries are consumed on daily bases by only small percentage of lactating women in Latvia [15], the calculated potassium intake for more than half of the study participants reached the recommended intake of 3100 mg per day.…”

“…Researchers from Spain [10] reported that during the first month postpartum, women were deficient in vitamins A, D, B 9 , and potassium. Pratt et al (2014) [12] advised that lactating women in the United States should increase their intake of vitamins A, D, E, and C and iodine, which may be accomplished by educating lactating women about the importance of consumption of vegetables, fruits, berries, dairy products, and fatty fish.…”

Faktor yang Berhubungan dengan Konsumsi Energi Ibu Menyusui di Kecamatan Cipayung, Kota Depok, Indonesia

“…10 Namun berbagai studi menunjukkan bahwa konsumsi energi ibu selama menyusui lebih rendah jika dibandingkan dengan asupan energi ibu saat hamil 11,12,13 dan konsumsi energi ibu menyusui lebih rendah dari yang disarankan. [14][15][16] Penelitian juga menunjukkan bahwa selain konsumsi energi ibu menyusui rendah, konsumsi energi ibu menyusui terus berkurang sejak bulan pertama hingga bulan ke enam menyusui. 17,18 Konsumsi energi ibu menyusui dapat dipengaruhi oleh beberapa faktor seperti konsumsi ibu saat hamil, kurangnya pengetahuan dan sikap mengenai tingginya kebutuhan gizi saat laktasi, kesibukan ibu mengurus bayi, berkurangnya konsumsi susu dan suplemen, adanya pantangan makan, serta kurangnya informasi dari tenaga kesehatan mengenai jumlah kebutuhan gizi ibu laktasi.…”