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Although evidence of the benefits of breastfeeding is widespread, there are several challenges to initiate and sustain it. Infant formula companies use marketing strategies that violate existing regulations, contributing to its early abandonment. We explore the digital marketing exposure of infant formulas in Argentina by analyzing people's interactions with brands and the traces of these interactions in conversations engaged in Facebook groups during 2022, from a qualitative approach based on digital ethnography. Results show that companies deploy regulatory avoidance tactics and seek contact with mothers. Users do not interact with the accounts but are exposed to their strategies given the correlation between product attributes present in advertising with their motivations and aspirations. The mediators between marketing and mothers are medical professionals, used as marketing resources. We conclude that authorities should promote new agreements on the practices of medical professionals and develop regulations taking into account digital environments.

Si bien es extendida la evidencia de los beneficios de la lactancia materna, diversos son los desafíos para iniciarla y sostenerla. Las empresas productoras de fórmulas infantiles utilizan estrategias de marketing violatorias de las regulaciones existentes, contribuyendo a su temprano abandono. Exploramos la exposición al marketing digital de las fórmulas infantiles en Argentina mediante el análisis de las interacciones de la población con las marcas y las huellas de dichas interacciones en conversaciones entabladas en grupos de Facebook durante 2022, desde un enfoque cualitativo basado en la etnografía digital. Los resultados muestran que las empresas despliegan tácticas elusivas de las regulaciones y buscan el contacto con las madres. Las usuarias no interactúan con las cuentas, pero están expuestas a sus estrategias dado el correlato entre los atributos del producto presentes en la publicidad con sus motivaciones y aspiraciones. Los mediadores entre el marketing y las madres son los profesionales médicos, utilizados como recursos del marketing. Concluimos que las autoridades deben promover nuevos acuerdos sobre las prácticas de los profesionales médicos y desarrollar regulaciones teniendo en cuenta los entornos digitales.

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Tributyltin (TBT) is the chemical substance commonly used worldwide to prevent biofouling of vessels. Due to its ability to bioaccumulate and biomagnify, even after being banned, significant concentrations of TBT can be detected in sediment, affecting marine and human life. Although studies have shown that direct exposure to TBT alters physiological parameters in mammals, the relationship between exposure to TBT during pregnancy and lactation, considered critical windows for metabolic programming, has not been fully elucidated. Our hypothesis is that offspring whose mothers were exposed to TBT during critical stages of development may exhibit dysfunctions in endocrine-metabolic parameters. We used pregnant Wistar rats that were divided into groups and received the following treatments from gestational day 7 until the end of lactation by intragastric gavage: vehicle (ethanol 0.01%; Control), low TBT dose (100 ng/kg of body weight (bw)/day; TBT100ng) and high TBT dose (1000 ng/kg bw/day; TBT1000ng). Dams and offspring at birth and weaning (21 days old) were studied. Maternal exposure to TBT promoted dose-dependent changes in dams. The findings for adiposity, milk composition and lipid profile were more pronounced in TBT100 ng dam; however, thyroid morphology was altered in TBT1000 ng dam. Female offspring were differentially affected by the dose of exposure. At birth, females in the TBT100ng group had low body weight, lower naso-anal length (NAL), and higher plasma T4, and at weaning, females in the TBT100ng group had lower insulin and leptin levels. Females in the TBT1000ng group had lower NAL at birth and lower leptinemia and weight of white adipose tissue at weaning. Male offspring from TBT groups showed high T3 at birth, without biometric alterations at birth or weaning. Despite these findings, both sexes exhibited dose-dependent morphological changes in the thyroid gland. Thus, maternal exposure to TBT constitutes an important route of contamination for both dams and offspring.

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Breastfeeding is recognized worldwide as the best option for infant feeding. Expressing breast milk is an alternative for mothers to provide their infants all the benefits of maternal milk. During breast milk expression, mothers receive a distinct kind of sensory stimulation, because there is no direct bodily or affective interaction with their infants, many women report feeling isolated, generating a love-hate relation with pumping, and even low levels of satisfaction while expressing breast milk. While it is well known that the prefrontal, parietal, and temporal cortices play important roles in the emotional and cognitive processing of maternal stimuli, knowledge about how these cortical areas function during breastfeeding is lacking. This study was designed to characterize EEG activity in the prefrontal and parietal cortices and the affective scores of primiparous breastfeeding mothers during two conditions of milk expression: breast milk expression and direct breastfeeding. Participants reported higher valence and arousal and a pleasant state during direct breastfeeding. In the direct breastfeeding condition, both prefrontal areas showed a higher absolute power (AP) of the slow bands, with a lower AP of the alpha band in the parietal cortex. A lower correlation between frontopolar and dorsolateral areas with a higher correlation between prefrontal and parietal cortices was obtained mainly in the right hemisphere. This EEG activity could be linked to an internal state of focused attention and, simultaneously, open monitoring of the environment that suggests an integration of the motive-emotional and cognitive processes necessary for adequate mother-baby interaction during direct breastfeeding.

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Background: The introduction of foods or fluids other than breast milk in the first few days after birth interferes with the establishment of breastfeeding. This study aimed to investigate the association of formula introduction during the first 3 days of life with maternal sociodemographic characteristics, hospital practices, and breastfeeding duration. Materials and Methods: Information from the National Survey of Demographic Dynamics, 2018, which includes 17,686 mother-baby pairs was analyzed. Mother-baby pairs were classified into categories according to breastfeeding duration: <5 months and ≥5 months. Statistical methods and a machine learning algorithm (Bayesian network, BN) were used to analyze the data. Results: In general, 3,720 (21%) mothers reported introducing formula during the first 3 days of life. A lower education level, lower sociodemographic stratum, living in a rural area, and considering oneself indigenous were factors associated with not introducing formula during the first 3 days of life. A total of 5,168 (29.2%) mother-baby pairs practiced breastfeeding for <5 months, and 12,518 (70.8%) for ≥5 months. Almost twice as many mothers who practiced breastfeeding for <5 months introduced formula during the first 3 days of life (31.7%) compared with those who practiced breastfeeding for ≥5 months (16.6%). The BN model can sufficiently predict cases with a breastfeeding duration ≥5 months (precision-recall curve area = 0.792). Discussion: Introducing formula during the first 3 days of life was associated with a shorter breastfeeding duration. BN analysis showed a probabilistic dependency between the type of delivery and variables associated with the establishment of breastfeeding.

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Objetivo: Analisar a relação entre o desmame precoce e o desenvolvimento de alergias alimentares por meio de uma revisão integrativa. Método:Revisão integrativa da literatura realizada através das bases de dados Pubmed, Mesh e Scielo.Resultados:Através da busca pelos descritores determinados, foram selecionados 25 estudos científicos que atenderam aos critérios de inclusão. Devido sua grande composição, o leite humano é responsável pela promoção do crescimento das bactérias com efeito bifidogênico, estando em quantidades superiores nos lactentes em AME. Conclusão: Apesar de alguns dos estudos não mostrarem resultados significativos em relação ao leite materno ser um fator protetor contra as alergias alimentares, nenhum deles deixoude incentivar o AM ou mostrar os seus benefícios já cientificamente comprovados.

Objective: To analyze the relationship between early weaning and the development of food allergies through an integrative review. Method: Integrative literature review performed through the Pubmed, Mesh and Scielo databases. Results: Through the search for the descriptors determined, 25 scientific studies that met the inclusion criteria were selected. Due to its large composition, human milk is responsible for promoting the growth of bacteria with bifidogenic effect, being in higher amounts in infants in EBF. Conclusion: Although some of the studies did not show significant results regarding breast milk being a protective factor against food allergies, none of them failed to encourage BF or show its scientifically proven benefits.

Objetivo: Analizar la relación entre el destete precoz y el desarrollo de alergias alimentarias a través de una revisión integradora. Metodo:Revisión integradora de la literatura realizada a través de las bases de datos Pubmed, Mesh y Scielo. Resultados: A través de la búsqueda de los descriptores determinados, se seleccionaron 25 estudios científicos que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión. Debido a su gran composición, la leche humana es responsable de promover el crecimiento de bacterias con efecto bifidogénico, estando en mayores cantidades en bebés en LME. Conclusión:Aunque algunos de los estudios no mostraron resultados significativos con respecto a que la leche materna sea un factor protector contra las alergias alimentarias, ninguno de ellos falló en fomentar la BF o mostrar sus beneficios científicamente probados.

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ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To identify the prevalence of contamination by pesticides and their metabolites in the milk of lactating mothers in Latin America. METHODS In this systematic review, the PubMed, LILACS, Embase, and Scopus databases were searched up to January 2022 to identify observational studies. The Mendeley software was used to manage these references. The risk of bias assessment was evaluated according to the checklist for prevalence studies and writing design, by the Prisma guidelines. RESULTS This study retrieved 1835 references and analyzed 49 studies. 69.38% of the analyzed studies found a 100% prevalence of breast milk contamination by pesticides among their sample. Main pesticides include dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its isomers (75.51%), followed by the metabolite dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) (69.38%) and hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) (46.93%). This study categorized most (65.30%) studies as having a low risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS This review shows a high prevalence of pesticide contamination in the breast milk of Latin American women. Further investigations should be carried out to assess contamination levels in breast milk and the possible effects of these substances on maternal and child health.

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RESUMEN Si bien es extendida la evidencia de los beneficios de la lactancia materna, diversos son los desafíos para iniciarla y sostenerla. Las empresas productoras de fórmulas infantiles utilizan estrategias de marketing violatorias de las regulaciones existentes, contribuyendo a su temprano abandono. Exploramos la exposición al marketing digital de las fórmulas infantiles en Argentina mediante el análisis de las interacciones de la población con las marcas y las huellas de dichas interacciones en conversaciones entabladas en grupos de Facebook durante 2022, desde un enfoque cualitativo basado en la etnografía digital. Los resultados muestran que las empresas despliegan tácticas elusivas de las regulaciones y buscan el contacto con las madres. Las usuarias no interactúan con las cuentas, pero están expuestas a sus estrategias dado el correlato entre los atributos del producto presentes en la publicidad con sus motivaciones y aspiraciones. Los mediadores entre el marketing y las madres son los profesionales médicos, utilizados como recursos del marketing. Concluimos que las autoridades deben promover nuevos acuerdos sobre las prácticas de los profesionales médicos y desarrollar regulaciones teniendo en cuenta los entornos digitales.

ABSTRACT Although evidence of the benefits of breastfeeding is widespread, there are several challenges to initiate and sustain it. Infant formula companies use marketing strategies that violate existing regulations, contributing to its early abandonment. We explore the digital marketing exposure of infant formulas in Argentina by analyzing people's interactions with brands and the traces of these interactions in conversations engaged in Facebook groups during 2022, from a qualitative approach based on digital ethnography. Results show that companies deploy regulatory avoidance tactics and seek contact with mothers. Users do not interact with the accounts but are exposed to their strategies given the correlation between product attributes present in advertising with their motivations and aspirations. The mediators between marketing and mothers are medical professionals, used as marketing resources. We conclude that authorities should promote new agreements on the practices of medical professionals and develop regulations taking into account digital environments.

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Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are compounds that are recalcitrant and ubiquitous that bioaccumulate in human milk (HM) and can impact infant growth and development. We explore the association between POP concentration in HM at 2-50 days postpartum and infant growth and development trajectory throughout the first year of life. A cohort of 68 healthy adult Brazilian women and their infants were followed from 28 to 35 gestational weeks to 12 months postpartum. HM samples were collected between 2 and 50 days postpartum, and POP concentrations were analyzed using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. Concentrations of POPs >limit of quantification (LOQ) were defined as presence, and concentrations ≤LOQ as an absence. Growth z-scores were analyzed according to WHO growth charts and infant development scores according to Age & Stages Questionnaires at 1 (n = 66), 6 (n = 50), and 12 months (n = 45). Linear mixed effects (LME) models were used to investigate the association of POPs in HM with infant growth and development. Benjamini-Hochberg (BH) correction for multiple testing was performed to reduce the false discovery ratio. P < 0.1 was considered for models with the interaction between POPs and time/sex. After BH correction, adjusted LME models with time interaction showed (1) a positive association between the presence of ß hexachlorocyclohexane and an increase in head circumference-for-age z-score (ß = 0.003, P = 0.095); (2) negative associations between total POPs (ß = -0.000002, P = 0.10), total organochlorine pesticides (ß = -0.000002, P = 0.10), and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene concentrations in HM (ß = -0.000002, P = 0.10) and fine motor scores. No statistical difference between the sexes was observed. Postnatal exposure to organochlorine pesticides in HM shows a positive association with the trajectory of head circumference-for-age z-score and a negative association with the trajectories of fine motor skills scores. Future studies on POP variation in HM at different postpartum times and their effect on infant growth and development should be encouraged.

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Breast milk (BM) is a constantly changing fluid that represents the primary source of nutrition for newborns. It is widely recognized that breastfeeding provides benefits for both the child and the mother, including a lower risk of ovarian and breast cancer, type 2 diabetes mellitus, decreased blood pressure, and more. In infants, breastfeeding has been correlated with a lower risk of infectious diseases, obesity, lower blood pressure, and decreased incidence of respiratory infections, diabetes, and asthma. Various factors, such as the baby's sex, the health status of the mother and child, the mother's diet, and the mode of delivery, can affect the composition of breast milk. This review focuses on the biological impact of the nutrients in BM on the development and functionality of vital organs to promote the benefit of health.

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En todos los ámbitos laborales, sin excepción, es imprescindible la vigencia ineludible del derecho irrestricto de toda madre a ejercer, practicar, su lactancia con su bebé. Y las razones médicas debieran formar parte de campañas incesantes para que este derecho de las mamás esté absolutamente naturalizado en todos los niveles y en cada rincón del país. La lactancia materna protege al bebé de enfermedades infecciosas y le da la nutrición ideal para una vida más sana. Es fundamental desde el primer día de vida extrauterina hasta los 6 meses con exclusividad y luego continúa con suplementos vitamínicos y nutrientes apropiados. En todo lugar de trabajo deben existir lactarios como una estrategia de Salud Pública y en Medicina del Trabajo. (AU)

In all areas of work, without exception, the unavoidable validity of the unrestricted right of every mother to exercise, practice, breastfeeding with her baby is essential. And the medical reasons should be part of incessant campaigns so that this right of mothers is absolutely naturalized at all levels and in every corner of the country. Breastfeeding protects the baby from infectious diseases and gives it the ideal nutrition for a healthier life. It is essential from the first day of extrauterine life until 6 months exclusively and then continues with appropriate vitamin and nutrient supplements. In every workplace there must be lactation rooms as a strategy of Public Health and Occupational Medicine. (AU)

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Introduction: scientific evidence has highlighted the role of chronobiological disruptions in promoting obesity through mechanisms involving important circadian rhythm hormones: melatonin and cortisol. These hormones are present in human colostrum and serve as crucial maternal and child protection mechanisms against obesity and childhood infections, owing to the intense interaction between mother and child during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Consequently, the melatonin and cortisol hormones present in human colostrum hold promise as potential candidates for yielding clinically applicable results and supporting future intervention strategies aimed at reducing obesity and neonatal infections. However, there is a scarcity of literature on this subject. Objective: the objective of this study is to to analyze the impact of maternal obesity on the levels and functions of melatonin and cortisol in colostrum and breast milk. Methods: a systematic review of the scientific literature was conducted following the recommendations outlined in the PRISMA protocol. Original articles published in English were searched in the PubMed, Medline, Lilacs, and Scopus databases. There were no restrictions on the publication year. Results: a total of 37 articles were identified from the searched databases. After removing duplicates and applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, only five studies were relevant to the topic: two studies addressing melatonin and three studies analyzing cortisol. This review revealed that melatonin levels are elevated in the colostrum of obese women, and for this particular group, it has the potential to restore phagocyte activity and increase lymphocyte proliferation. Studies on cortisol have demonstrated that maternal obesity does not alter the levels of this hormone in breast milk. Conclusion: breastfeeding should be encouraged for all populations, and further original research should be conducted to elucidate the protective mechanisms of colostrum and breast milk.

Introdução: evidências científicas enfatizam que disrupções cronobiológicas podem promover a obesidade por mecanismos envolvendo ação de importantes hormônios marcadores do ritmo circadiano: a melatonina e cortisol. Estes hormônios estão presentes no colostro humano e representam importante mecanismo de proteção materno infantil frente à obesidade e infecções infantis, devido à intensa interação entre mãe e filho durante a gravidez e amamentação. Assim, os hormônios melatonina e cortisol presentes no colostro humano representam promissores candidatos para fornecer resultados com capacidade de aplicação clínica e de embasamento de futuras estratégias de intervenção com enfoque na redução da obesidade e de infecções neonatais. Entretanto, são escassos os estudos na literatura sobre o tema. Objetivo: analisar as repercussões da obesidade materna sobre os níveis e as ações da melatonina e do cortisol no colostro e leite materno. Método: foi realizada uma revisão sistematizada da literatura científica seguindo as recomendações do protocolo Prisma. Foram pesquisados artigos originais, publicados em inglês, nas bases de dados PubMed, Medline, Lilacs e Scopus. Não houve restrição quanto ao ano de publicação. Resultados: foram identificados 37 artigos nas bases de dados pesquisados, 15 artigos foram excluídos por estarem duplicados, após aplicação do critério de inclusão e exclusão apenas 5 estudos tiveram relação ao tema, sendo 2 estudos abordando sobre melatonina e 3 pesquisas que analisaram o cortisol. Esta revisão mostrou que a melatonina está elevada em colostro de obesas e para este grupo ela possui potencial de restaurar atividade de fagócitos e de elevar a proliferação de linfócitos. Os estudos sobre o cortisol ilustraram que os níveis deste hormônio no leite materno não foram alterados pela obesidade materna. Conclusão: o aleitamento materno deve ser encorajado para todos os públicos, assim como mais pesquisas originais devem ser desenvolvidas para descrever os mecanismos protetores do colostro e leite materno

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There is increasing evidence that the diet and nutritional status of women during pregnancy and lactation can modulate the microbiota of their milk and, therefore, the microbiota of the infant. An observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was carried out in a group of lactating women. Dietary intake during gestation and the first trimester of lactation was evaluated, and the microbiota was analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing using the Illumina platform. Globally, Streptococcus spp. (32%), Staphylococcus spp. (17.3%), Corynebacterium spp. (5.1%) and Veillonella spp. (3.1%) were the predominant bacterial genera. The consumption of simple carbohydrates in gestation (rho = 0.55, p ≤ 0.01) and lactation (rho = 0.50, p ≤ 0.01) were positively correlated with Enterobacter spp. In lactation, a negative correlation was observed between the intake of simple carbohydrates and the genus Bifidobacterium spp. (rho = -0.51 p ≤ 0.01); furthermore, a positive correlation was identified between the intake of folic acid and Akkermansia spp. (rho = 0.47, p ≤ 0.01). Amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) associated with the delivery mode, employment relationship, the baby's gender, birth weight, the Body Mass Index (BMI) of the breastfeeding woman, and gestational weight gain were recovered as covariates in a linear mixed model. The results of this research showed that the maternal nutritional status and diet of women during gestation and lactation could modulate the microbiota of breast milk.

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Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants. They were produced in relatively large volumes in the last century and are now subject to long-term monitoring and regulated under the United Nations Stockholm Convention (SC) on persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Though restricted, human exposure is still a concern and in some regions of the globe the information on the health risk is limited. Sixty breast milk samples from nursing mothers were collected between 2014 and 2015, residing in Bogota, Cartagena, and Medellin, which are industrialized cities in Colombia. This is the first comprehensive study to determine the concentrations in breast milk of PBDEs (n = 7), PCBs (n = 29), and OCPs (n = 28) in Colombia. The detection frequency of POPs, including BDE-47, CB-138, CB-153, CB-156, and CB-180, as well as several OCPs such as chloroneb, aldrins, HCHs, DDTs, and heptachlor, was found to be 100% in all samples tested. The mean concentrations of the analyzed legacy POPs were ∑3DDTs (423 ng/g lw) > chloroneb (50.1 ng/g lw) > ∑2permetrins (17.5 ng/g lw) > ∑2aldrins (16.7 ng/g lw) > 29 PCBs (15.04 ng/g lw) > ∑2chlordanes (CHLs) (11.2 ng/g lw) ≈ ∑3endosulfans (11.1 ng/g lw) > ∑2heptachlors (2.43 ng/g lw) > 7PBDEs (2.1 ng/g lw) > ∑4HCHs (0.58 ng/g lw). The results of this study suggest that the concentrations of DDTs were present in breast milk samples from Colombia at levels comparable to those found in previous studies conducted in other countries such as Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, and various Asian countries. The concentrations of PBDE and PCB congeners, as well as many pesticides, were found to be significantly correlated with each other. This suggests that these substances may have similar sources of exposure. The strength of the pair correlation among concentrations of POPs was assessed using Spearman's correlation coefficients, which varied from r = 0.62 for the association between BDE-47 and CB-153, to a high correlation of 0.99 for the correlation between γ-Chlordane and heptachlor. This suggests that these POPs may share similar sources, such as diet. An exposure assessment model obtained by Monte Carlo simulation showed that infants were exposed to low concentrations of POPs with exception of p,p'-DDE and Aldrin, in which 25th, 50th and 95th percentiles were greater than the threshold reference values of non-carcinogenic effects suggested by US-EPA regulations while the 90th percentile of pg TEQ/Kg-bw/day for dl-PCBs was above of the tolerable daily intake (TDI) proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Therefore, the health risk of infants exposed to OCPs and dl-PCBs should be exanimated continually through biomonitoring programs in the Colombian population.

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Leptin concentrations in breast milk can influence metabolic programming during the first months of life. Small for gestational age (SGA) newborns show a peculiar growth pattern after birth, which can lead to adulthood diseases. This study aims to assess an association between leptin concentration in mature breast milk and the infant anthropometric indicators of the SGA and the non-SGA groups, in addition, to comparing the hormone level between these groups. A longitudinal study was performed with mother-infant pairs. The maternal sociodemographic information was collected in the first 48 h postpartum. Breast milk was collected at one month postpartum and leptin concentrations were obtained by immunoassays. The infant anthropometric measurements were collected at three and six months postpartum and included weight, height (to body mass index-BMI calculated), triceps skinfold (TSF), and subscapular skinfold (SSF). The BMI for age (BMI/A), TSF, and SSF were calculated by Z-score indicators. Data from 67 mother-infant pairs (n = 16 SGA and n = 51 non-SGA) were analyzed. In univariate analyses, the breast milk of the SGA group had lower leptin concentrations than the non-SGA group (p = 0.006), however, after adjustment, there was no difference between groups (p = 0.181). In the SGA group, there was a significant association between leptin concentrations and lower SSF at six months in infants, after adjustment (p = 0.003). In the non-SGA group, the breast milk leptin was associated with lower BMI/A at three and six months in infants, after adjustment (p = 0.002 and p = 0.010, respectively). The association between breast milk leptin concentrations with SSF in the SGA group and BMI/A in the non-SGA group suggests that leptin may be a modulating factor in infant growth in the first months of life.

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The context for this review is the rapid increase in the use of non-nutritive sweeteners (NNSs) instead of sugar in foods and beverages, a situation so prevalent in some countries that consumers are finding it increasingly challenging to access foods without NNSs. The benefits of consuming NNSs on obesity and diabetes are now being questioned, and studies have shown that they may exert physiological activities, sometimes independently of sweet taste receptor stimulation. Few studies, limited mainly to North American and European countries, have described the consumption of NNSs by pregnant or lactating women and infants. Most focus on beverages rather than foods, but all agree that consumption levels have increased dramatically. Although some studies report a negative impact of NNSs on the risk of preterm birth, increased birth weight and decreased gestational age, the level of evidence is low. Several studies have also reported increased weight gain in infancy, associated with maternal NNS intake. Interestingly, several NNSs have been detected in amniotic fluid and breast milk, usually (but not always) at concentrations below their established detection limit in humans. Unfortunately, the impact of chronic exposure of the fetus/infant to low levels of multiple NNSs is unknown. In conclusion, there is a stark contrast between the galloping increase in the consumption of NNSs and the small number of studies evaluating their impact in at-risk groups such as pregnant and lactating women and infants. Clearly, more studies are needed, especially in Latin America and Asia, to fill these gaps and update recommendations.

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BACKGROUND: Labels are a key element of the marketing strategies of infant formula companies, and often include text or images that idealize their use, undermining efforts to promote breastfeeding. RESEARCH AIMS: To evaluate the prevalence of marketing cues that idealize infant formula on labels of products commercialized in Uruguay and to assess changes after a periodic monitoring of compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes (IC). METHOD: This study is a descriptive, observational, and longitudinal assessment of the information included on infant formula labels. The first data collection was in 2019, as part of a periodic assessment to monitor the marketing of human-milk substitutes. In 2021, the same products were purchased to evaluate changes in their labels. Thirty-eight products were identified in 2019, of which 33 were still available in 2021. All information available on the labels was analyzed through content analysis. RESULTS: Most products included at least one textual or visual marketing cue idealizing infant formula in both 2019 (n = 30, 91%) and 2021 (n = 29, 88%). This represents a violation of both the IC and national regulations. References to nutritional composition were the most frequent marketing cue, followed by references to child growth and development. No relevant changes were observed after the periodic assessment conducted by the Uruguayan government. CONCLUSIONS: Monitoring compliance with the IC per se cannot be expected to trigger changes in the marketing strategies of infant formula companies. More explicit regulations and strong enforcement mechanisms are needed to end the inappropriate marketing practices on infant formula labels.

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Introducción: La leche materna es considerada la vacuna perfecta de todos los tiempos y la mejor fuente de nutrición para los niños. Objetivo: Determinar el nivel de conocimientos de madres y padres sobre lactancia materna exclusiva. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y transversal de 27 madres y 27 padres de lactantes con destete precoz, pertenecientes al área de salud del Policlínico Docente Camilo Torres Restrepo de Santiago de Cuba, desde enero hasta diciembre del 2021, para lo cual el instrumento empleado fue la encuesta. Resultados: Se halló que los conocimientos sobre lactancia materna fueron considerados altos en 13 madres (48,1 %) y medios en 11 padres (40,7 %). Todos los integrantes de la serie recibieron información sobre el tema y las vías fundamentales para ello fueron los medios de difusión masiva (85,0 %), seguidos de los familiares y amigos (55,0 %). Conclusiones: El conocimiento acerca de la lactancia materna exclusiva en los padres resultó insuficiente y, en las madres, fue necesario ampliar dichos conocimientos sobre las técnicas para amamantar.

Introduction: Breast milk is considered the perfect vaccine of all times and the best nutrition source for children. Objective: To determine the knowledge level of mothers and fathers on exclusive breast feeding. Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out of 27 mothers and 27 fathers of early weaning infants. They were from the health area of Camilo Torres Restrepo Teaching Polyclinic in Santiago de Cuba, from January to December, 2021, for which the survey was used. Results: It was found that knowledge on breast feeding was considered high in 13 mothers (48.1 %) and medium in 11 fathers (40.7 %). All members of the series received information on the topic and the fundamental ways were mass media (85.0 %), followed by relatives and friends (55.0 %). Conclusions: The knowledge about exclusive breast feeding in fathers was insufficient and, in mothers, it was necessary to increase this knowledge on the techniques to breastfeed.

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RESUMO

Introducción. El grado de acidez Dornic (AD), medida indirecta del grado de contaminación de la leche humana cruda (LHC), proporciona información sobre la calidad de esta. Recién extraída, el valor oscila entre 1,0° y 4,0° (óptimo). Descalifica el consumo si es >8,0 °D. Se evaluó la correlación de la AD de la LHC de donantes internas (DI) y externas (DE) según el tiempo de conservación hasta la pasteurización, y se determinó la prevalencia de AD ≤4 ºD. Población y método. Estudio retrospectivo analítico. Resultados. Sobre 13 203 muestras, la AD a partir del día 14 de conservación fue menor en las donantes internas, de 2,92; (IC95% 2,69-3,15) versus 4,01 (IC95%: 3,94-4,08); p <0,001] con mayor proporción de AD ≤4 ºD (88 % en DI versus 76 % en DE); OR: 2,30 (IC95%: 1,25-4,24); p = 0,003. Coeficiente de correlación para las DI: R 2 :0; p = 1). Conclusión. La AD a partir del día 14 fue menor en DI, presentando mayor prevalencia de AD ≤ 4ºD. No existió correlación entre el tiempo de conservación y la AD en las DI.

Introduction. The degree of Dornic acidity (DA) is an indirect measure of milk contamination and quality. In freshly expressed milk, DA ranges between 1.0 and 4.0 (optimal). If DA is > 8.0 °D, it should be discarded. The correlation between DA in raw breast milk from internal donors (ID) and external donors (ED) based on storage time until pasteurization was assessed. Population and method. Retrospective, analytical study. Results. In 13 203 samples, DA was lower in IDs as of 14 days of storage: 2.92 (95% CI: 2.69­3.15) versus 4.01 (95% CI: 3.94­4.08), with a higher proportion of DA ≤ 4 °D (88% in IDs versus 76% in EDs); odds ratio: 2.30 (95% CI: 1.25­4.24). Conclusion. DA as of 14 days of storage was lower in IDs, with a higher prevalence of DA ≤ 4 °D. No correlation was observed between storage time and DA in ID samples.

Assuntos