Journal Article

Immediate effect of food intake by the nursing mother on the macronutrient content of colostrum

da Silva, Camila B.M., Dolinsky, Manuela, Vieira, Alan A., Nascimento, Regina C.F.A., do Valle, Bernardo V., Hochman, Virgínia G.A., do Amaral, Yasmin N.di V.

2025

Overview

Human milk has a dynamic composition that is ideal for the needs of infants. However, the factors that affect the nutritional content of human milk are still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the immediate effect of maternal food intake (lunch) on the macronutrient composition of colostrum. This prospective study performed a paired analysis of macronutrient concentrations in the colostrum of healthy postpartum women. Three milliliters of colostrum were collected from 65 participants 30 min before and 2 h after a meal (lunch) by manual expression. The nutritional content of the meal was similar for all mothers. Colostrum analysis was performed using a Human Milk Analyzer (Miris®). The fat content was significantly higher in colostrum samples collected 2 h after lunch than in those collected 30 mins before lunch (2.3 ± 1.1 vs. 2.8 ± 1.4 g %, p = 0.002). No significant differences were observed in the protein (1.9 ± 0.7 vs. 1.9 ± 1.0) and carbohydrate (6.4 ± 0.8 vs. 6.4 ± 0.8) content. Two hours after the mother had lunch, the colostrum fat concentration increased by 20 %.

• Publisher: Elsevier Editora Ltda,Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria,Elsevier
• Subject: Adult / Babies / Body mass index / Breastfeeding & lactation / Carbohydrates / Colostrum / Colostrum - chemistry / Diet / Diet and nutrition / Eating - physiology / Female / Food / Gestational age / Human milk / Humans / Immunoglobulins / Lunch - physiology / Macronutrients, maternal nutrition / Milk, Human - chemistry / Mothers / Newborn babies / Nutrients - analysis / Nutrition research / Original / PEDIATRICS / Postpartum Period / Prospective Studies / Proteins / Sociodemographics / Time Factors / Womens health / Young Adult