Reduced growth velocity in exclusively breast-fed infants
B. Duncan, C. Schaefer, B. Sibley and N. M. Fonseca
A number of recent studies have reported reduced growth velocity among
breast-fed infants, as compared with standard growth curves. Contradictions
between these and previous studies of breast-feeding have been difficult to
resolve because of methodological problems, particularly supplementation of
breast-feeding with other nutrients. In the present study, 33 term infants,
exclusively breast-fed for six months, showed significantly slower rates of
growth compared with data from the National Center for Health Statistics
(NCHS). Between birth and 6 months of age, these infants lost an average of
20 percentiles in weight for age and 30 percentiles in length in relation
to the NCHS population. We discuss these findings in terms of the
appropriateness of the NCHS data as standards and the adequacy of exclusive
breast-feeding for providing optimum growth through 6 months of age.
