(P07-008-23) Dietary Intake Among Lactating Mothers of Hospitalized Human Milk-Fed Very Preterm Infants

Objectives: Nutritional requirements among lactating women are increased to meet the demands of milk production. Maternal diet during lactation also affects milk composition. Very preterm infants are nutritionally vulnerable and derive unique health benefits from maternal milk during neonatal hospitalization. Inadequate intakes of key nutrients may compromise maternal health and reduce milk quality, contributing to suboptimal infant intakes during critical periods of development. Our aim was to describe dietary intake among mothers of human milk-fed very preterm infants and compare results to the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs).

Methods: We studied 51 lactating mothers of hospitalized human milk-fed very preterm infants. At the time of infant discharge from hospital to home, mothers completed the Harvard Willett Food Frequency Questionnaire, which assessed habitual intakes of nutrients since the birth of infants. We used one-sample t-tests to assess differences between mean reported values and the DRIs.

Results: Participants were 32±6.4 years old with a pre-pregnancy BMI of 29±8.6 kg/m2. Seventy-three percent reported taking multivitamin supplements. Reported intakes of macronutrients met DRIs. Reported intakes of saturated fat [mean difference (95%CI) = -33 g (-36, -29 g)], omega-3 fatty acids [-1.1 g (-1.2, -1.0 g)], and fiber [-9.1 g (-12, -6.1 g)] were lower than the DRIs. Reported intakes of vitamins from diet alone (without supplements) were lower than the DRIs, specifically for vitamins A [-372 μg (-517, -226 μg)], E [-8.7 mg (-11, -6.7 mg)], D [-406 IU (-444, -369 IU)], and C [-17 mg (-31, -2.4 mg)]. Reported intakes of minerals were higher than the DRIs, apart from calcium which was lower [-124 mg (-246, -0.7 mg)]. Participants met the DRIs for all reported vitamins and minerals when supplements were included in the mean calculations.

Conclusions: Lactating mothers met most dietary recommendations but consumed less than the DRIs for key vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and fiber based on diet alone (without supplements). Mothers may benefit from guidance on food sources of antioxidants such as vitamins A, E, and C, which may be more bioavailable in milk. Maternal nutrition represents a modifiable target for intervention to improve milk quality for hospitalized human milk-fed very preterm infants.

Funding Sources: NICHD