Tipos de leite consumidos durante o primeiro ano de vida e estado nutricional de crianças brasileiras pertencentes a estudo multicêntrico

Abstract

Observational longitudinal study in Pelotas-RS aimed at evaluating the association between the consumption of different types of milk and indicators of nutritional status during the first year of life. The sample is part of a multicenter study that was conducted in five countries (Sri Lanka, Kenya, South Africa, Pakistan and Brazil) and included infants using eligibility criteria to detect the conditions necessary to reach the maximum potential of growth. The types of milk consumed were evaluated at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age through the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and anthropometric measurements of weight and length were performed in double measurements by standardized nutritionists at the same ages. Independent variables were age, education and maternal occupation, marital status and parity, as well as the sex of the baby and the diet quality index. Of the 2,965 pairs of mothers and babies screened in hospitals, 362 met the criteria, agreed to participate, and were included in the study. At 3 months, most boys and girls consumed only breast milk (58.0% and 65.8%, respectively). At 6 months 41.9% of boys and 52.4% of girls consumed only breast milk and at 9 months, the majority (33.6%) of girls still consumed only breast milk, while in boys, the majority (34, 4%) consumed breast milk and other milks. At 12 months, only one in five boys and less than one in three girls still ate breast milk (20.2% of = boys and 28.6% of girls). Higher average weight-for-age z-scores were observed in boys who consumed only formula and cow's milk at 12 months and in girls who consumed only formula (at 9 and 12 months). Higher weight-to-length z-score averages were found in girls who consumed only formula at 9 months. Higher averages of the same measure were also found in boys who consumed only formula and cow's milk at 12 months and for those who never had breast milk (until 12 months). Higher mean z-scores for age were found for girls who drank cow's milk and formula only (at 9 and 12 months) and for those who never consumed breast milk (at 6 and up to 12 months). Types of milk consumed were associated with nutritional status during the first year of life, with differences between boys and girls. Higher anthropometric indices in children who did not receive breast milk drew attention to the maintenance of these deviations in the future towards overweight. This fact reinforces the advantages of breast milk over other types of milk, as it adapts to the nutritional needs of infants also according to gender. It is therefore necessary to reaffirm the importance of breastfeeding in early childhood and its superiority over other types of milk.