The consumption of a high sugar diet during the breastfeeding phase after pregnancy may affect developmental outcomes for the newborn infant, new research by the Saban Research Institute and the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles suggests.
The study, released in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, evaluated 88 female participants. “Mothers completed two 24-h dietary recalls at 1 and 6 postnatal months, and reported breastfeedings per day,” the findings say.
“The Bayley-III Scales of Infant Development were administered at 24 postnatal months to assess infant cognition. Linear regressions were used to examine associations, reported as unstandardized (B) coefficients, 95% CIs, and P values.”
Based on the findings, it was determined that maternal fructose intake could in fact impact infant neurodevelopmental outcomes at 24 months old.
“Ultimately, we want babies to receive the best quality nutrition,” said Paige Berger, the study’s first author.
“Our findings may be used to guide future nutrition recommendations for moms during breastfeeding, to better ensure that babies are getting the right building blocks for cognitive development.”
The study was also authored by and
