<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Although benefits of breast-feeding have been known for a long time and breast milk is considered as ideal nutrition for infants, the composition of breast milk is still being studied, since breast milk differs among mothers and populations, as well as during different times of lactation. Further, no study has been performed among lactating women in Latvia during recent years. The objective of the study was to determine the breast milk composition and influencing factors among lactating women in Latvia in different lactation periods, as well as to compare the results with data from other countries. Fifty breast milk samples were obtained from 44 mothers (on the 5th-7th and 11th-28th day of lactation), whose neonates were treated in the Neonatal Care Unit, Children’s Clinical University Hospital, Rīga. Milk analysis (pH, density, protein, fat, and lactose concentration) was performed in the Latvia University of Agriculture. Breast milk composition among lactating women in Latvia on the 5th-7th lactation day more resembled transitional milk containing a higher amount of protein and a lower amount of fat. The composition of the studied milk samples on the 11th-28th lactation day was comparable to data from other countries. Concentration of lactose was correlated with neonatal weight and not gestational age. </abstract>

Although benefits of breast-feeding have been known for a long time and breast milk is considered as ideal nutrition for infants, the composition of breast milk is still being studied, since breast milk differs among mothers and populations, as well as during different times of lactation. Further, no study has been performed among lactating women in Latvia during recent years. The objective of the study was to determine the breast milk composition and influencing factors among lactating women in Latvia in different lactation periods, as well as to compare the results with data from other countries. Fifty breast milk samples were obtained from 44 mothers (on the 5th-7th and 11th-28th day of lactation), whose neonates were treated in the Neonatal Care Unit, Children’s Clinical University Hospital, Rīga. Milk analysis (pH, density, protein, fat, and lactose concentration) was performed in the Latvia University of Agriculture. Breast milk composition among lactating women in Latvia on the 5th-7th lactation day more resembled transitional milk containing a higher amount of protein and a lower amount of fat. The composition of the studied milk samples on the 11th-28th lactation day was comparable to data from other countries. Concentration of lactose was correlated with neonatal weight and not gestational age.

Comparison of breast milk composition among lactating women in Latvia

Faculty of Medicine, University of Latvia, Raiņa bulv. 19, Rīga, LV-1586, LATVIA

Latvia University of Agriculture, Lielā iela 2, Jelgava, LV-3001, LATVIA

Children’s Clinical University Hospital, Vienības gatve 45, Rīga, LV-1004, LATVIA

Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Section B. Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

{"article-title":"Comparison of breast milk composition among lactating women in Latvia"}

Although benefits of breast-feeding have been known for a long time and breast milk is considered as ideal nutrition for infants, the composition of breast...

Comparison of breast milk composition among lactating women in Latvia

Publicado en línea: 15 jun 2016

Páginas: 47 - 50

Recibido: 17 dic 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/prolas-2016-0009

Palabras clave
breast milk composition, human milk, breast feeding, lactose

© by Līga Broka

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Comparison of breast milk composition among lactating women in Latvia

Publicado en línea: 15 jun 2016

Páginas: 47 - 50

Recibido: 17 dic 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/prolas-2016-0009

Palabras clavebreast milk composition, human milk, breast feeding, lactose

© by Līga Broka

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Palabras clave
breast milk composition, human milk, breast feeding, lactose