OBJECTIVE: To assess longitudinally nutrient intakes of lactating women during the postpartum period. DESIGN: Dietary data from lactating women were collected by means of 2-day food records at 3 and 6 months postpartum. Intake of energy and selected nutrients was tabulated and compared with dietary standards. SUBJECTS: The 52 lactating women enrolled in the study lived in a university community, were apparently healthy, had a body mass index within normal range, were successfully nursing a term infant, and planned to nurse for at least 6 months. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Paired t tests and Stuart-Maxwell chi(2) analyses. RESULTS: Mean energy intakes were below the Recommended Dietary Allowance. Mean intakes of most nutrients met or exceeded recommended standards except for zinc and vitamins D and E at both 3 and 6 months postpartum. Calcium and folate intakes were also below standards at 6 months. Although mean iron intake exceeded the standard at both measurement times, there was a significant decline from 3 to 6 months. Relative frequencies of mothers meeting various percentages of standards differed significantly from 3 to 6 months for calcium; iron; folate; and vitamins E, D, and B-6. At 6 months, significant increases were noted in the number of women reporting calcium, folate, and vitamin B-6 intakes at less than one half of the recommended amounts. APPLICATIONS/ CONCLUSIONS: Guidance for lactating women should stress food sources of nutrients likely to be limited in their diets: calcium; zinc; folate; and vitamins E, D, and B-6.
OBJECTIVE: To assess longitudinally nutrient intakes of lactating women during the postpartum period. DESIGN: Dietary data from lactating women were collected by means of 2-day food records at 3 and 6 months postpartum. Intake of energy and selected nutrients was tabulated and compared with dietary standards. SUBJECTS: The 52 lactating women enrolled in the study lived in a university community, were apparently healthy, had a body mass index within normal range, were successfully nursing a term infant, and planned to nurse for at least 6 months. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Paired t tests and Stuart-Maxwell chi(2) analyses. RESULTS: Mean energy intakes were below the Recommended Dietary Allowance. Mean intakes of most nutrients met or exceeded recommended standards except for zinc and vitamins D and E at both 3 and 6 months postpartum. Calcium and folate intakes were also below standards at 6 months. Although mean iron intake exceeded the standard at both measurement times, there was a significant decline from 3 to 6 months. Relative frequencies of mothers meeting various percentages of standards differed significantly from 3 to 6 months for calcium; iron; folate; and vitamins E, D, and B-6. At 6 months, significant increases were noted in the number of women reporting calcium, folate, and vitamin B-6 intakes at less than one half of the recommended amounts. APPLICATIONS/ CONCLUSIONS: Guidance for lactating women should stress food sources of nutrients likely to be limited in their diets: calcium; zinc; folate; and vitamins E, D, and B-6.
Authors: Truls Østbye; Katrina M Krause; Rebecca J N Brouwer; Cheryl A Lovelady; Miriam C Morey; Lori A Bastian; Bercedis L Peterson; Geeta K Swamy; Jaspreet Chowdhary; Colleen M McBride Journal: J Womens Health (Larchmt) Date: 2008-12 Impact factor: 2.681