Dietary modifications and supplementation in breastfeeding mothers

Abstract

Breastfeeding mothers usually feel torn between the need to diet in order to lose excess weight gained during pregnancy and the need to maintain an adequate dietary intake to ensure milk is available for the infant. Lactation involves a complex interaction of different factors, including nutrition, endocrine effects and the mother's behaviour. Recently there have accumulated important insights into how the nutritional status of the mother influences breastfeeding and the infant's healthy development. Nonetheless, much is still unknown regarding the necessary dietary intake of trace elements in breastfeeding women. Some studies have examined how dietary supplementation with zinc, copper or iodine affects the level of these ions in human milk. In addition, the presence of comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hypertension, polycystic ovary syndrome and principles behind dietary prescriptions are also very effective factors in breastfeeding. Management of diet should proceed stepwise. The important factors to consider in recommending a suitable diet are the individual's basal metabolic requirements, the balance of macro- and micro-nutrients needed and the objectives aimed for. If dietary management is approached from a realistic, personalised perspective, and any prescribed diet is provided in a patient-friendly format, weight loss can be achieved in women following pregnancy and in middle age. Whatever diet is followed, however, one constant feature is that all breastfeeding mothers will require additional fluid intake and a varied diet to ensure milk production is sufficient and of high quality.