Associations Between Mothers’ Use of Food to Soothe, Feeding Mode, and Infant Weight During Early Infancy

Weight status and rate of weight gain in the first six months postpartum are strong predictors of later obesity; thus, infant feeding practices are an important target for obesity prevention efforts. The use of food to soothe (FTS) is associated with less-favorable eating habits and weight outcomes for older infants and children. However, few studies have examined correlates of use of FTS during early infancy. The primary aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore associations between use of FTS and infant weight status in the first 6 months postpartum. A secondary aim was to identify the combination of maternal and infant characteristics that predicted use of FTS. Mothers of infants aged 6 months or younger (N = 134) completed questionnaires assessing use of FTS, bottle-feeding intensity (i.e., percentage of daily feedings from bottles versus directly from the breast), levels of responsive and pressuring feeding styles, dimensions of infant temperament and eating behaviors, and family demographics. Dyads were observed during feeding to assess maternal sensitivity to infant cues and responsiveness to infant distress and infant clarity of cues and responsiveness to the mother. Infant weight and length at study entry were assessed by a trained research assistant. Use of FTS was not associated with infant weight for age z-score (WAZ), even when bottle-feeding intensity was considered as a moderator. More frequent use of FTS was predicted by the combination of greater levels of pressuring feeding style (p = .005) and infant temperamental negative affectivity (p = .001), and lower levels of infant temperamental surgency/extraversion (p = .018). In conclusion, use of FTS was associated with dimensions of infant temperament and maternal feeding style, but not with WAZ during early infancy

Vitamin A deficiency during pregnancy of HIV infected and non-infected women in tropical settings of Northwest Ethiopia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is known to be a major public health problem among women of reproductive age in South East Asia and Africa. In Ethiopia, there are no studies conducted on serum vitamin A status of HIV-infected pregnant women. Therefore, the present study was aimed at determining the level of serum vitamin A and VAD among pregnant women with and without HIV infection in tropical settings of Northwest Ethiopia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this cross-sectional study, blood samples were collected from 423 pregnant women and from 55 healthy volunteers who visited the University of Gondar Hospital. Serum concentration of vitamin A was measured by high performance liquid chromatography.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After controlling for total serum protein, albumin and demographic variables, the mean ± SD serum vitamin A in HIV seropositive pregnant women (0.96 ± 0.42 μmol/L) was significantly lower than that in pregnant women without HIV infection (1.10 ± 0.45 μmol/L, P < 0.05). Likewise, the level of serum vitamin A in HIV seropositive non-pregnant women (0.74 ± 0.39) was significantly lower than that in HIV negative non-pregnant women (1.18 ± 0.59 μmol/L, P < 0.004). VAD (serum retinol < 0.7 μmol/L) was observed in 18.4% and 17.7% of HIV infected and uninfected pregnant women, respectively. Forty six percent of non-pregnant women with HIV infection had VAD while only 28% controls were deficient for vitamin A (P = 0.002).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present study shows that VAD is a major public health problem among pregnant women in the tropical settings of Northwest Ethiopia. Considering the possible implications of VAD during pregnancy, we recommend multivitamin (which has a lower level of vitamin A) supplementation in the care and management of pregnant women with or without HIV infection.</p

Food fortification improves the intake of all fortified nutrients, but fails to meet the estimated dietary requirements for vitamins A and B\u3csub\u3e6\u3c/sub\u3e, in lactating South African women

Objective To investigate the impact of fortification by comparing food records and selected biochemical indicators of nutritional status pre- and post-fortification. Design Mean intake from 24 h recalls (n 142) was compared with the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) to determine the proportion with inadequate intake. In a subsample (n 34), diet and serum retinol, folate, ferritin and Zn were compared pre- and post-fortification for fortified nutrients vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, Fe and Zn. Setting South Africa. Subjects Breast-feeding women (ninety-four HIV-infected, forty eight HIV-uninfected) measured at ∼6, 14, 24 weeks, and 9 and 12 months postpartum. Results Pre-fortification, \u3e80 % of women did not meet the EAR for vitamins A, C, D, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B6, B12 and folate and minerals Zn, iodine and Ca. Dietary intake post-fortification increased for all fortified nutrients. In post-fortification food records, \u3e70 % did not meet the EAR for Zn and vitamins A, riboflavin and B6. Serum folate and Zn increased significantly post-fortification (P \u3c 0·001 for both), with no change in ferritin and a reduction in retinol. Post-fortification marginal/deficient folate status was reduced (73·5 % pre v. 3·0 % post; P \u3c 0·001), as was Zn deficiency (26·5 % pre v. 5·9 % post; P \u3c 0·05). Pre- and post-fortification, \u3e93 % were retinol replete. There was no change in Fe deficiency (16·7 % pre v. 19·4 % post; P = 0·728). Conclusions Micronutrient intake improved with fortification, but \u3e70 % of lactating women did not meet the EAR for Zn, vitamins A, riboflavin and B6. Although 100 % exceeded the EAR for Fe after fortification, Fe status did not improve

Effect of Nutritional Interventions on Micronutrient Status in Pregnant Malawian Women with Moderate Malnutrition: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

Micronutrient deficiencies during pregnancy are common in Africa and can cause adverse outcomes. The objective was to measure micronutrient status and change in moderately malnourished pregnant Malawian women randomized to one of three nutritional interventions. Serum vitamin B12, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, folate, retinol, ferritin, zinc, albumin and C-reactive protein were measured in pregnant women with MUAC &ge;20.6 cm and &le;23.0 cm at enrollment (n = 343) and after 10 weeks (n = 229) of receiving: (1) ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF); (2) fortified corn-soy blend (CSB+) with multiple-micronutrient supplement (CSB+UNIMMAP); or (3) CSB+ with iron and folic acid (CSB+IFA). Each provided 100&ndash;300% Recommended Dietary Allowance of most micronutrients and 900 kcal/day. Birth length was measured in 272 infants. Enrollment measurements indicated deficiencies in vitamin B12 (20.9%) and zinc (22.3%), low values of ferritin (25.1%) and albumin (33.7%), and elevated CRP (46.0%). Vitamin B12 is known to decrease in the third trimester; the RUSF group had the smallest decrease from enrollment to week 10 (3%), compared to 20% decrease in the CSB+IFA group and 8% decrease in the CSB+UNIMMAP group (p = 0.001). Mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D increased most in the RUSF group (+6.4 ng/mL), compared to CSB+IFA (+1.7 ng/mL) and CSB+UNIMMAP (+2.7 ng/mL) (p &lt; 0.001). Micronutrient deficiencies and inflammation are common among moderately malnourished pregnant women and had little improvement despite supplementation above the RDA, with the exception of vitamins B12 and D