Author
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MOTIL, KATHLEEN - BAYLOR COLL OF MEDICINE |
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Submitted to: Procceedings Nutricia Symposium - Recent Advances in Infant Nutrition
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 2/11/1996 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: The regulation of milk production and composition in the human is an intricate and complex process that integrates structure with function in the presence of hormonal, behavioral, and nutritional factors. While some of these factors directly influence milk production and/or composition, others can be inferred only from indirect evidence. This review highlights four major determinants of milk production and composition: 1. the anatomical factors of the breast, including gross and molecular structure; 2. the hormonal factors, including reproductive and metabolic hormones; 3. maternal behavioral factors as they relate to infant feeding patterns; and 4. nutritional factors as they relate to the maternal diet and metabolic adaptation to the lactational process. While all of these factors are essential for optimal lactational performance, protein nutriture is an important determinant of milk production and composition. It is difficult to understand why protein nutriture should be pivotal to the lactational performance of the mother, particularly when maternal milk production appears to be an inconsequential physiologic and metabolic process. |
