Positive Health Online

Abstract

CARRETERO-KRUG and COLLEAGUES,  (1)Grupo USP-CEU de Excelencia "Nutrición para la vida (Nutrition for Life)", Ref: E02/0720, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas y de la Salud, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Urbanización Montepríncipe, 28660 Boadilla del Monte, Spain.;(2)Instituto CEU Alimentación y Sociedad, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Urbanización Montepríncipe, 28660 Boadilla del Monte, Spain conducted a review, in which nutrient intakes were compared with the dietary reference values (DRVs)      proposed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as well as by the World      Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization (WHO/FAO).

Background

Adequate nutrition during breastfeeding is crucial for ensuring the good health of mothers and babies. Despite the high energy and nutrient demands of breastfeeding, lactating women are often vulnerable from a nutritional perspective. The nutritional focus during breastfeeding tends to be on the  newborn, often neglecting the mother's diet.

Methodology

Therefore, in the present narrative review, nutrient intakes were compared with the dietary reference values (DRVs)  proposed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as well as by the World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization (WHO/FAO).

Results

In the diets of  lactating mothers, dietary inadequacies were observed in the intake of some  vitamins, such as folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin A, and vitamin D, and in the intake of certain minerals like calcium, iron, and iodine; polyunsaturated  omega-3 fatty acid deficiencies, primarily in eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, were also observed. On the other hand, the debate on the   necessity of supplementation during lactation continues; the need for  nutritional supplementation during lactation depends on many factors, such us  mothers' eating habits. There seems to be a positive association between nutritional supplementation of the lactating mother and the concentration of  certain nutrients in human milk.

Conclusion

The present narrative review provides an update on the nutritional status (fatty acids and micronutrients) of breastfeeding  mothers and the impact of diet and dietary supplementation on human milk composition. Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

Carretero-Krug A(1)(2), Montero-Bravo A(1)(2), Morais-Moreno C(1), Puga AM(1)(2), Samaniego-Vaesken ML(1)(2), Partearroyo T(1)(2), Varela-Moreiras G(1)(2). Nutritional Status of Breastfeeding Mothers and Impact of Diet and Dietary Supplementation: A Narrative Review. Nutrients. ;16(2):301. DOI: 10.3390/nu16020301. Jan 19 2024.