AsianScientist (Aug. 4, 2015) – Although breastfeeding has become more common, the breastfeeding rate has remained low in places like Hong Kong. One of the main reasons is that Hong Kong mothers worry about whether their breast milk is sufficiently nutritious to meet the growing needs of their infants. Local healthcare professionals also lack information on the composition of breast milk composition in their daily practice.
To fill the data gap of Hong Kong breast milk nutrition research, the research team at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) embarked on the study to understand the diet and nutritional characteristics of breast milk in lactating women and analyze how daily diet affects the nutritional composition of breast milk.
The research team recruited breastfeeding mothers between April and May 2014. They collected breast milk and conducted a three-day diet survey with the 74 subjects between May and August 2014, and subsequently tested the level of polyunsaturated fatty acids (DHA, EPA and AA) of the breast milk collected between September 2014 and June 2015.
Results revealed that the DHA level in more than 80 percent of the breast milk collected meets the adequate intake level for 0 to 36 months old infants recommended by the Chinese Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) 2013 (based on daily consumption 750ml), which could supply sufficient DHA to infant to help their brain and vision development. In addition, the average daily intake of DHA as well as DHA+EPA of participants also exceeds the adequate intake level recommended by the Chinese DRIs 2013, including participants who did not take supplement.
According to the diet survey, salmon was the most frequently consumed type of fish, eaten an average of 18 times per participant in three months, amounting to consuming salmon once every five days. The survey also showed that the breastfeeding mother participants consumed sashimi or sushi once every five days.
Mr. Gordon Cheung, registered dietitian and project fellow of the Food Safety and Technology Research Center under PolyU’s Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, suggested that breastfeeding mothers consume adequate amount of meat, fish, egg or their alternatives, and select fishes which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and low in methyl mercury.
Dr. Wong Man-sau, associate professor at PolyU’s Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology (ABCT) and deputy director of Food Safety and Technology Research Center (FSTRC) said, “Our research results reveal that the breast milk in Hong Kong lactating mothers can meet the growing needs of infants in omega-3 fatty acids.”
“As a result, we strongly urge mothers to consider breastfeeding. Not only does it serve as a food source for infants, it helps develop mother-child relationship, allowing children to grow happily and healthily.”
The research team will start the second phase of the study in the coming six months. The second phase will include testing the levels of essential element such as calcium and trace elements (e.g. zinc, iron, iodine and selenium) in breast milk and investigating the nutrient level of the food items recorded in the dietary survey.
These results are expected help the Laboratory for Infant & Child Nutrition build up a more comprehensive breast milk database in Hong Kong, promote the breastfeeding by providing information on mother and infant nutrition to the general public.
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Source: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
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