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Research and Reviews : Journal of Dairy Science and Technology Review Article

Human Milk and Infant Growth: A Systematic Review of Nutritional Outcomes

  1. Tuba Iram Research and Development, CG Corp Global (Wai Wai) Noodles, Gurgaon

Abstract

Human milk is recognized as the optimal source of nutrition for infants, playing a critical role in their growth and development. This systematic review explores the evidence linking human milk consumption to various growth parameters in infants, including weight gain, length, and head circumference while considering the influencing factors of prematurity and health status. The composition of human milk, rich in essential macronutrients (proteins, fats, carbohydrates) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), along with bioactive components, such as immunoglobulins and growth factor, contributes significantly to the nutritional outcomes for infants. Clinical studies demonstrate that breastfed infants experience superior weight gain and growth velocity compared to their formula-fed counterparts, with benefits observed in premature infants who face significant growth challenges. The review highlights the importance of human milk in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), where it supports optimal growth parameters and long-term developmental outcomes for preterm infants. Additionally, the health status of both mother and infant plays a pivotal role in influencing the growth responses to human milk, with maternal health directly impacting milk composition and infant health affecting growth trajectories. Mechanistically, the prebiotic effects of human milk oligosaccharides promote a healthy gut microbiota, which in turn supports metabolic pathways critical for growth. The review concludes with recommendations for optimizing infant growth through exclusive breastfeeding, maternal education, and the potential for fortifying human milk for vulnerable populations. The findings underscore the importance of human milk not only as a nutritional resource but also as a crucial factor in enhancing infant growth and development outcomes, emphasizing the need for ongoing research in this vital area of pediatric health.

Keywords

References (36)

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  28. Munblit D, Verhasselt V, Warner JO. Human milk composition and health outcomes in children. Front Pediatr. 2019;7:319. doi: 3389/fped.2019.00319.
  29. Schönknecht YB, Moreno Tovar MV, Jensen SR, Parschat K. Clinical Studies on the Supplementation of Manufactured Human Milk Oligosaccharides: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2023;15(16):3622. doi:10.3390/nu15163622
  30. Daniel AI, Shama S, Ismail S, Bourdon C, Kiss A, Mwangome M, et al. Maternal BMI is positively associated with human milk fat: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2021;113(4):1009-1022. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqaa410
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  35. Haschke F, Binder C, Huber-Dangl M, Haiden N. Early-life nutrition, growth trajectories, and long-term outcome. In: Human Milk: Composition, Clinical Benefits and Future Opportunities Karger Publishers; 2019. pp. 107–120.
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