Impact of maternal nutritional supplementation in conjunction with a breastfeeding support program on breastfeeding performance, birth, and growth outcomes in a Vietnamese population

<p><b>Purpose:</b> This study aimed to evaluate the effects of maternal nutritional supplementation (MNS) in conjunction with a breastfeeding support program on birth outcomes and breastfeeding performance.</p> <p><b>Methods:</b> A total of 228 singleton Vietnamese mothers aged 20–35 years at 26–29 weeks of gestation with pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) < 25.0 kg/m² were randomized to the intervention (<i>n</i> = 114), receiving MNS (252 kcal/day) daily up to 12 weeks postpartum and four breastfeeding education and support sessions or to the control (<i>n</i> = 114), receiving standards of care.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> The intervention was 2.09 times more likely to exclusively breastfeed over the 12 weeks than the control (95%CI: 1.05–4.13, <i>p</i> = .0358), after controlling for potential confounders. Infant’s breast milk intake was significantly higher in the intervention than the control among mothers with baseline mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) < 50th (<i>p</i> = .0251). Infants in the intervention had significantly higher birth weight (<i>p</i> = .0312), birth weight-for-age (<i>p</i> = .0141) and birth head circumference-for-age (<i>p</i> = .0487), and higher head circumference-for-age <i>z</i>-score (<i>p</i> = .0183) development over the postnatal period, compared with the control.</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> Use of MNS and breastfeeding support improve birth outcomes and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rate in Vietnamese mothers. Additionally, it promotes breast milk production among mothers with lower baseline MUAC.</p

Development scores from ASQ-3 and Bayley-III at 30 months of age by study groups.

<p>Development scores from ASQ-3 and Bayley-III at 30 months of age by study groups.</p

Results of Cox’s proportional hazards models (<i>HR</i>s, 95% CI) for discontinuing exclusive breastfeeding.

<p>Results of Cox’s proportional hazards models (<i>HR</i>s, 95% CI) for discontinuing exclusive breastfeeding.</p

Study flow chart.

<p>RCT, randomized controlled trial; BF, breastfed.</p

Odds Ratios (and 95% confidence intervals) of getting an above the median score of neurodevelopment at 30 months of age among children in the intervention group compared to the control.

<p>Odds Ratios (and 95% confidence intervals) of getting an above the median score of neurodevelopment at 30 months of age among children in the intervention group compared to the control.</p

Impact of maternal nutritional supplementation in conjunction with a breastfeeding support program during the last trimester to 12 weeks postpartum on breastfeeding practices and child development at 30 months old - Fig 2

<p>Kaplan-Meier survival curves for duration of (a) any breastfeeding duration and (b) exclusive breastfeeding by treatment. - - - - - Control, ^_________ Intervention, + Censored.</p

Maternal breastfeeding and child feeding practices.

<p>Maternal breastfeeding and child feeding practices.</p

Association of 52 tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (tagSNPs) in with breast cancer risk, Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI) and breast cancer survival

Left column: breast cancer risk. Middle column: NPI (case-only analysis). Right column: breast cancer survival. Squares and horizontal lines represent odds and hazard (survival analysis) ratios (change in risk with each addition of the rare allele) and their confidence intervals. Sizes of the squares reflect the minor allele frequencies. NPI was categorised into ≤ 4 or > 4.<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "and genetic variation in relation to breast cancer risk and survival"</p><p>http://breast-cancer-research.com/content/10/1/R15</p><p>Breast Cancer Research : BCR 2008;10(1):R15-R15.</p><p>Published online 14 Feb 2008</p><p>PMCID:PMC2374971.</p><p></p