The Effect of Maternal Micronutrient Supplementation During Lactation on Breast Milk Composition and Infant Nutritional Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Vitamin D, Iron, and Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Abstract
Background : Human milk is the optimal source of nutrition for infants, providing a complex matrix of components essential for growth and development. The composition of breast milk is dynamic and can be influenced by maternal nutritional status. Specific micronutrient supplementation during lactation is a proposed strategy to enhance milk quality and improve infant health outcomes, yet the efficacy of this approach varies significantly by nutrient.
Objectives : To systematically review and critically evaluate the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effects of maternal supplementation with vitamin D, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids during lactation on breast milk composition and a comprehensive range of corresponding infant nutritional, health, and developmental outcomes.
Methods : A systematic search of PubMed, Google Scholar, Semanthic Scholar, Springer, and Wiley Online Library was conducted. The review included RCTs of maternal oral supplementation with vitamin D, iron, or omega-3s during lactation in mothers of exclusively or predominantly breastfed infants. Primary outcomes included breast milk composition and infant biochemical status (e.g., serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, hemoglobin, serum ferritin, red blood cell docosahexaenoic acid). Secondary outcomes included infant anthropometry, neurodevelopment, immune function, gut microbiome composition, allergic disease incidence, and maternal mental health.
Results : Vitamin D: High-dose maternal vitamin D…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.
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