Study Title
Human Milk Macronutrients and Child Growth and Body Composition in the First Two Years: A Systematic Review
Principal Investigator
Meredith Brockway, Allison I. Daniel, Sarah M. Reyes, Matthew Granger, Joann M. McDermid, Deborah Chan, Rebecca Refvik, Karanbir K. Sidhu, Suad Musse, Pooja P. Patel, Caroline Monnin, Larisa Lotoski, Donna Geddes, Fyezah Jehan, Patrick Kolsteren, Lindsay H. Allen, Daniela Hampel, Kamilla G. Eriksen, Natalie Rodriguez, Meghan B. Azad
Affiliation
Manitoba Interdisciplinary Lactation Centre, Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, University of Manitoba, Canada; Centre for Global Child Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Canada; Department of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada; Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Canada; School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Australia; Department of Pediatrics, Aga Khan University, Pakistan; Department of Food Safety and Food Quality, Ghent University, Belgium; Western Human Nutrition Research Center, Agriculture Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, USA; Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, USA; Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Start Date
Not specified
End Date
Not specified
Study Objective
To synthesize the evidence on the relationship between human milk macronutrients and infant growth and body composition during the first two years of life.
Short Abstract
This systematic review analyzes the associations between human milk (HM) macronutrients and infant growth and body composition from birth to two years. The review includes 57 articles with 5,979 dyads, focusing on the role of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats in infant weight, length, and body composition outcomes. Results show that carbohydrates were positively associated with infant weight, protein with infant length, and fats with head circumference. The review highlights the heterogeneity in study designs and recommends standardized protocols for future research.
Study Design
Systematic review of observational studies
Population
Term-born, healthy infants (0-24 months)
Sample Size
5,979 dyads across 57 studies
Inclusion Criteria
Studies assessing the impact of human milk macronutrients on infant growth and body composition
Exclusion Criteria
Studies focusing on non-term infants, formula-fed infants, or those not providing human milk data
Intervention/Exposure
Human milk macronutrients: carbohydrates (lactose, glucose), proteins, and fats
Outcome Measures
Infant weight, length, body mass index (BMI), head circumference, body composition (fat mass, lean mass), and growth velocity
Funding Source
Not specified
Collaborating Institutions
University of Manitoba, University of Toronto, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Copenhagen, University of California, Davis
Ethics Approval
Not applicable (systematic review)
Publication Status
Published in Advances in Nutrition, 2024
Keywords
Human milk, macronutrients, infant growth, body composition, carbohydrates, protein, fat, breastfeeding
Data Collection Methods
Systematic literature review, data extraction from Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, and gray literature
Primary Data Availability
Not applicable
Contact Information
Meghan B. Azad (