To Study the Effect of Exclusively Breastfeeding and Exclusively Cow Milk Feeding on Lipid Profile of Babies at 3 and 6 Month of Life

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Breastfeeding is a natural source of enormousvalue and is necessary for the life of babies. The influence ofinfants’ eating patterns, on subsequent cholesterol levels is ofinterest.Breastfeeding has been found to be protective againstatherosclerotic cardiac diseases and better lipid profile later inlife compared to bovine milk. Hence, the study was carried outwith aim to compare the lipid profiles of exclusively breastfedinfants and cow milk fed babies.Material and Methods: It was a Prospective ObservationalStudy conducted among fifty exclusively breastfed babiesand fifty exclusively cow milk fed babies. Lipid profile werecompared at three and six month of life over a span of oneyear in Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareillywho fulfilled inclusion criteria of study.Results: In the present study, the exclusive breastfedbabies showed lower levels of cholesterol and low densitylipoprotein, rising levels of HDL/LDL ratio, high densitylipoprotein in exclusive breastfed babies as compared to cowmilk fed babies which showed declining concentrations ofhigh density lipoprotein, HDL/LDL ratio, rising levels of lowdensity lipoprotein.Conclusion: The study was conclusive of the fact thatexclusive breastfeeding for initial six month of life shows anedge to the positive lipid profile (decreasing cholesterol, lowdensity lipoprotein, triglycerides, and increasing high densitylipoprotein and HDL/ LDL ratio) over six month as comparedto exclusively cow milk fed babies.