TY - JOUR

T1 - Growth of breast-fed infants deviates from current reference data: A pooled analysis of US, Canadian, and European data sets

AU - Dewey, Kathryn G.

AU - Peerson, Janet M.

AU - Brown, Kathryn H.

AU - Krebs, N. F.

AU - Michaelsen, Kim F.

AU - Persson, L. A.

AU - Salmenpera, L.

AU - Whitehead, R. G.

AU - Yeung, D. L.

AU - Anderson, M. A.

AU - Dewey, K. G.

AU - Frongillo, E.

AU - Garza, C.

AU - Haschke, F.

AU - Kramer, M.

AU - Whitehead, R. G.

AU - Winichagoon, P.

PY - 1995

Y1 - 1995

N2 - Objective: To compare growth patterns of a large sample of breast-fed infants with the current World Health Organization (WHO)/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reference data. Methods: Data from seven longitudinal studies of infant growth in North America and northern Europe were pooled (n = 453 breast-fed infants). Weight, length and head circumference were compared with the WHO/CDC reference, and repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to examine associations between growth patterns and breast-feeding duration, age of introduction of solid foods, and use of other milks. Results: In comparison with WHO/CDC reference data, infants breast-fed for at least 12 months (n = 226) grew more rapidly in the first 2 months and less rapidly (particularly in weight) from 3 to 12 months; the mean z score at 12 months was -0.53 for weight for age, -0.29 for length for age, and -0.32 for weight for length. In contrast, mean head circumference was well above the WHO/CDC median throughout the first year of life. These patterns were generally consistent across studies. In the full sample (n = 453), a longer duration of breast-feeding was associated with a greater decline in weight for age and weight for length but not length for age. Conclusion: These results suggest that if growth charts are to reflect patterns consistent with those of infants following WHO feeding recommendations, new reference data based on breast-fed infants are needed.

AB - Objective: To compare growth patterns of a large sample of breast-fed infants with the current World Health Organization (WHO)/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reference data. Methods: Data from seven longitudinal studies of infant growth in North America and northern Europe were pooled (n = 453 breast-fed infants). Weight, length and head circumference were compared with the WHO/CDC reference, and repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to examine associations between growth patterns and breast-feeding duration, age of introduction of solid foods, and use of other milks. Results: In comparison with WHO/CDC reference data, infants breast-fed for at least 12 months (n = 226) grew more rapidly in the first 2 months and less rapidly (particularly in weight) from 3 to 12 months; the mean z score at 12 months was -0.53 for weight for age, -0.29 for length for age, and -0.32 for weight for length. In contrast, mean head circumference was well above the WHO/CDC median throughout the first year of life. These patterns were generally consistent across studies. In the full sample (n = 453), a longer duration of breast-feeding was associated with a greater decline in weight for age and weight for length but not length for age. Conclusion: These results suggest that if growth charts are to reflect patterns consistent with those of infants following WHO feeding recommendations, new reference data based on breast-fed infants are needed.

KW - Anthropometry

KW - Breast-feeding

KW - Growth monitoring

KW - Growth references

KW - Infant feeding practices

KW - Recumbent length

KW - Weight

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0029114167&partnerID=8YFLogxK

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 7651784

AN - SCOPUS:0029114167

VL - 96

SP - 495

EP - 503

JO - Pediatrics

JF - Pediatrics

SN - 0031-4005

IS - 3 I

ER -