Subclinical Mastitis May Not Reduce Breastmilk Intake During Established Lactation

Overview

Journal Breastfeed Med

Publisher Mary Ann Liebert

Specialty Nutritional Sciences

Date 2009 Feb 27

PMID 19243263

Citations 9

Authors

Richmond N O Aryeetey

Grace S Marquis

Lucy Brakohiapa

Leo Timms

Anna Lartey

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: This study determined the effect of subclinical mastitis (SCM) on infant breastmilk intake.

Design: Participants (60 Ghanaian lactating mothers and their infants) were from periurban communities in the Manya Krobo district of Ghana in 2006-2007. Bilateral breastmilk samples were obtained once between months 3 and 6 postpartum and tested for SCM using the California mastitis test (CMT) and the sodium/potassium (Na/K) ratio. Infants' 12-hour breastmilk intake was assessed by test weighing. CMT scoring for SCM diagnosis was scaled as >or=1 = positive (n = 37) and <1 = negative (n = 23). SCM diagnosis was confirmed as a Na/K ratio of >1.0 (n = 14).

Results: Breastmilk intake was nonsignificantly lower among infants whose mothers had elevated Na/K ratios of >1.0 (-65.1 g; 95% confidence interval -141.3 g, 11.1 g). Infants whose mothers were positive for SCM with both CMT and Na/K ratio criteria had significantly lower breastmilk intake (-88.9 g; 95% confidence interval -171.1 g, -6.9 g) compared to those whose mothers tested either negative with both tests or positive on only one. Infant weight (p < 0.01) and frequency of feeding (p = 0.01) were independently associated with breastmilk intake. However, the effect of SCM on breastmilk intake disappeared when infant weight and feeding frequency were included in a multiple linear regression model.

Conclusions: The results of this study did not show an effect of SCM on breastmilk intake among 3-6-month-old infants. A larger sample size with a longitudinal design will be needed in future studies.

Citing Articles

The Dietary Inflammatory Index Is Associated with Subclinical Mastitis in Lactating European Women.

Afeiche M, Iroz A, Thielecke F, De Castro A, Lefebvre G, Draper C Nutrients. 2022; 14(22).

PMID: 36432405 PMC: 9696022. DOI: 10.3390/nu14224719.

Sodium and Potassium Concentrations and Somatic Cell Count of Human Milk Produced in the First Six Weeks Postpartum and Their Suitability as Biomarkers of Clinical and Subclinical Mastitis.

Pace R, Pace C, Fehrenkamp B, Price W, Lewis M, Williams J Nutrients. 2022; 14(22).

PMID: 36432395 PMC: 9694808. DOI: 10.3390/nu14224708.

Recurrent Severe Subclinical Mastitis and the Risk of HIV Transmission Through Breastfeeding.

Rutagwera D, Moles J, Kankasa C, Mwiya M, Tuaillon E, Peries M Front Immunol. 2022; 13:822076.

PMID: 35309352 PMC: 8931278. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.822076.

Infant Anthropometry and Growth Velocity Before 6 Months are Associated with Breastfeeding Practices and the Presence of Subclinical Mastitis and Maternal Intestinal Protozoa in Indigenous Communities in Guatemala.

Wren-Atilola H, Solomons N, Scott M, Koski K Curr Dev Nutr. 2021; 5(9):nzab086.

PMID: 34585057 PMC: 8460162. DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzab086.

Subclinical Mastitis in a European Multicenter Cohort: Prevalence, Impact on Human Milk (HM) Composition, and Association with Infant HM Intake and Growth.

Samuel T, De Castro C, Dubascoux S, Affolter M, Giuffrida F, Billeaud C Nutrients. 2020; 12(1).

PMID: 31905959 PMC: 7019749. DOI: 10.3390/nu12010105.

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