Energy utilization and growth in breast-fed and formula-fed infants measured prospectively during the first year of life

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 67; no. 5; pp. 885 - 896
• Main Authors: de Bruin, NC, Degenhart, HJ, Gàl, S, Westerterp, KR, Stijnen, T, Visser, HK
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Elsevier Inc 01.05.1998; American Society for Clinical Nutrition; American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc
• Subjects: ADIPOSE TISSUES; Age Factors; ALIMENT POUR NOURRISSON; ALIMENTACION INFANTIL; ALIMENTATION AU SEIN; ALIMENTATION DU NOURRISSON; ALIMENTOS PARA NINOS; Babies; BEBES; Biological and medical sciences; BIOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES; BODY COMPOSITION; Body Composition - physiology; BODY FAT; Body Height - physiology; BODY LEAN MASS; BODY WEIGHT; Body Weight - physiology; Bottle Feeding; BREAST FEEDING; Breastfeeding & lactation; CABEZA; CARBOHIDRATOS; CARBOHYDRATES; CHILDREN; CORPS GRAS; CRECIMIENTO; CROISSANCE; Data Interpretation, Statistical; DIET; DIETA; DIFERENCIAS BIOLOGICAS; DIFFERENCE BIOLOGIQUE; DIMENSION; DIMENSIONS; ENERGIA; ENERGIE; ENERGY; ENERGY EXPENDITURE; ENERGY INTAKE; ENERGY METABOLISM; ENERGY REQUIREMENTS; ENERGY VALUE; ENFANT; ENFANT EN BAS AGE; FATS; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; FORECASTING; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GIRLS; GLUCIDE; GRASAS; GROWTH; Growth - physiology; HEAD; Humans; Infant; INFANT FEEDING; Infant Food; INFANT FOODS; INFANT FORMULAS; Infant, Newborn; INFANTS; INGESTION DE NUTRIENTES; INGESTION DE SUBSTANCES NUTRITIVES; LACTANCIA MATERNA; LARGURA; LENGTH; LONGUEUR; Male; Metabolism; METABOLISME ENERGETIQUE; METABOLISMO ENERGETICO; METABOLIZABLE ENERGY; NINOS; NUTRIENT INTAKE; Nutritional Status; PESO CORPORAL; Physical growth; POIDS CORPOREL; Predictive Value of Tests; Prospective Studies; PROTEINAS; PROTEINE; PROTEINS; REGIME ALIMENTAIRE; SEX; Sex Factors; SEXE; SEXO; TECHNIQUE DE PREVISION; TECNICAS DE PREDICCION; TEJIDO ADIPOSO; TETE; TISSU ADIPEUX; VALEUR ENERGETIQUE; VALOR ENERGETICO; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Human; Energy consumption; Nutrition; Food intake; Energetic cost; Infant; Breast feeding; Metabolism; Body composition; Feeding; Milk
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/67.5.885

This study is the first to report approximations of energy requirements for male and female breast-fed and formula-fed infants based on individual estimates of total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) and energy deposition derived from total body fat (TBF) and fat-free mass (FFM) gain as determined by total-body electrical conductivity. In 46 healthy, full-term infants the effect of > or = 4 mo of exclusive breast-feeding compared with formula feeding on macronutrient and energy intake, TDEE, energy deposition, and growth were investigated prospectively. Metabolizable energy intake (MEI) was assessed from macronutrient intake by test weighing (MEI-TW) and from the sum of TDEE and energy deposition (MEI-Pred). At 1-2, 2-4, 4-8, and 8-12 mo of age MEI-Pred averaged 431 +/- 38, 393 +/- 33, 372 +/- 33, and 355 +/- 21 kJ x kg(-1) x d(-1) for boys, and 401 +/- 59, 376 +/- 25, 334 +/- 33, and 326 +/- 17 kJ x kg(-1) x d(-1) for girls. No significant difference between breast-fed and formula-fed infants was found with respect to weight, length, head circumference, TBF, FFM, and TDEE at all ages, or for gain in length, weight, TBF, and FFM. MEI-TW was significantly different between feeding groups at 1-4 mo of age (formula-fed being greater than breast-fed, P < 0.005). This feeding effect, however, was not significant for MEI-Pred (MJ/d). MEI-TW differed from MEI-Pred only in breast-fed infants at 1-4 mo (P < 0.05 at 2-4 mo). The data from this study indicate that energy requirements in infants are lower than the recommendations in guidelines currently in use.