Body parameters of Czech breastfed children compared to the Czech references and WHO growth standards

Comparison of nutritional status and growth curves of children and adolescents in the city of Goiânia, Goiás: cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Nutritional status and growth curves can affect cognitive development, increase the risk of infection, and contribute to the development of chronic diseases. Its etiology is related to food, socioeconomic, and maternal conditions. However, to date, no data on these parameters exist in the state of Goiás, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the nutritional status and growth curves of children and adolescents in the city of Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.

DESIGN AND SETTING

This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 529 individuals were recruited from a primary health center in the municipality.

METHODS

To assess nutritional status, the sample was divided into three categories: 3-4, 5-10, and 11-19 years, with z-score classification considering body mass index for age. The classification of growth curves was performed considering the median height values for age, assuming two references: (a) young Brazilian population and (b) one recommended for international use. The independent sample T-test was used to compare anthropometric variables.

RESULTS

The results showed that the classification of eutrophics represents a predominant percentage between both sexes (men: 03-04 = 55.4%; 05-10 = 57.6%; 11-19 = 53.5 % and women: 03-04 = 53.5%; 05-10 = 63.9%; 11-19 = 56.9%), and growth curves showed differences in specific periods in both sexes.

CONCLUSIONS

It can be concluded that children and adolescents from the city of Goiânia present as predominance the eutrophic nutritional status, followed by the risk of overweight, underweight, obesity, and malnutrition of both sexes.

Increased Breastfeeding Frequency Enhances Milk Production and Infant Weight Gain: Correlation with the Basal Maternal Prolactin Level

Background: Breastfeeding is an important health concern for postpartum women. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of breastfeeding frequency on the level of serum prolactin (PRL), milk intake, and infant weight gain. Materials and Methods: The time and duration of each breastfeeding episode were recorded by participants from day 1 to 28 postpartum. According to their diaries, we divided participants into the low-frequency breastfeeding group (Group I; <10 breastfeeding episodes/day) and high-frequency breastfeeding group (Group II; >/ = 10 breastfeeding episodes/day). A total of 23 mother-infant pairs were enrolled; blood samples were drawn between 1600 and 1800 hours. The PRL levels were examined using the DPC Immulite system. Results: Overall, 71.8% (23) of the enrolled mother-infant pairs completed the follow-up. Infant birth weight was higher in Group II than in Group I (3275.6 ± 93.3 g versus 2918 ± 82.1 g). On day 28 postpartum, infants in Group II ingested significantly more milk per feeding (71.6 ± 4.0 mL versus 54.1 ± 5.2 mL) and gained more weight from birth (142.9% ± 4.5% versus 130.2% ± 2.4%) compared with those in Group I. The mothers of Group II had significantly higher basal serum PRL levels (116.4 ± 11.8 ng/mL versus 72.7 ± 7.77 ng/mL), but a significantly lower increase in PRL postsuckling (168.5% ± 23.1% versus 291.6% ± 37.6% of basal PRL). The frequency of suckling was positively correlated (r = 0.5) with the basal PRL level. Moreover, infant weight gain was significantly higher in male (144.7% ± 4.7%) than in female (132.3% ± 2.9%) infants. Conclusions: Increase in frequency of breastfeeding of over 10/day is associated with baseline PRL levels and increased milk production and weight gain. These results provide useful information for breastfeeding women.

The Low Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Czech Breastfed Infants and Young Children: An Anthropological Survey

The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in a sample of children who were exclusively or predominantly breastfed for at least 6 months compared to Czech references that were constructed based on a representative sample of children, regardless of their mode of feeding. Between 2008 and 2011, a longitudinal study on the growth of breastfed infants was carried out in the Czech Republic. Forty-three GP pediatricians addressed parents at 18-month preventive examinations and collected data on the families' socio-economic conditions and the infants' feeding conditions. The children were measured (length, weight, and head circumference), and anthropometric measurements from 10 previous preventive examinations were obtained from the health records. Out of the collected 1775 questionnaires, 960 children were selected according to the criteria of the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study. For the purpose of this study, 799 children who were exclusively or predominantly breastfed for at least 6 months were selected. We found that the proportions of children who were classified as overweight (>90th percentile) or obese (>97th percentile) at 6, 12, and 18-month examinations were far below the proportions of the Czech references. An update of the Czech references and growth charts is highly recommended by GP pediatricians for the valid assessment of growth and nutritional status, including a screening of overweight and obesity in primary preventive health care.