Maternal Intake of Cruciferous Vegetables and Other Foods and Colic Symptoms in Exclusively Breast-Fed Infants

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Abstract

Objective We sought to assess relationships among components of maternal diet and the presence of colic symptoms among exclusively breast-fed infants aged ≤4 months.

Design Data were collected by means of a mailed questionnaire that solicited information on the presence of symptoms of colic in infants and maternal intake of 15 foods (including four cruciferous vegetables) during the week before completion of the questionnaire.

Subjects Exclusively breast-feeding women (n=272) and their 273 infants aged ≤4 months.

Statistical analyses performed Dietary variables were analyzed categorically by logistic regression. Two-by-two tables were used to calculate relative risks.

Results Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for colic symptoms by food items the mothers consumed ranged from 0.7 (CI=0.3 to 1.5) for beef to 2.0 (01=1.1 to 3.5) for cow's milk. Maternal intake of cabbage (RR=1.3, CI=1.1 to 1.5), cauliflower (RR=1.2, CI=1.0 to 1.4), broccoli (RR=1.3, CI=1.0 to 2.2), cow's milk (RR=2.0, CI=1.1 to 3.5), onion (RR=1.7, CI=1.1 to 2.5), and chocolate (RR=1.5, CI=1.0 to 2.2) were significantly related to colic symptoms. Maternal intake of more than one cruciferous vegetable was associated with an RR of 1.6 (CI=1.1 to 2.4) for infants experiencing one or more colic symptoms.

Conclusion Results of this study provide initial evidence that maternal intake of cruciferous vegetables, cow's milk, onion, or chocolate during exclusive breast-feeding is associated with colic symptoms in young infants. J Am Diet Assoc. 1996; 96:47-48.

Section snippets

Subjects and Methods

Participants in the research were members of La Leche League International who were referred to us by area coordinators of leaders in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Consent forms, questionnaires, and return envelopes were mailed to the 447 members referred. Each participant was asked to sign a consent form, complete the questionnaire, and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided. Information attached to the questionnaire described the research as a study of “maternal diet and

Results

Of the 447 questionnaires initially distributed, 351 (79%) were returned. Of the 351 questionnaires returned, 272 (77%) were submitted by women exclusively breast-feeding infants aged ≤4 months. Participants were mostly white (96%), nonsmok-ers (95%), and had a mean ± standard deviation (SD) age of 31.2±4.4 years. Mean parity was 2.2±1.2 live births. Infants' mean birth weight was 8.11±1.1 lb and infants' mean age at the time of the study was 2.8±1.2 months. Of the 271 singleton infants and one

Discussion

Cruciferous vegetables have long been suspected of precipitating colic symptoms in breast-fed infants. Although it is commonly advised that breast-feeding women avoid these vegetables, to our knowledge this is the first study on the topic. Although a cause-and-effect relationship cannot be concluded from this study's design, the investigation does provide initial evidence that cruciferous vegetables, along with cow's milk, onion, and chocolate, in the diets of women who exclusively breast-feed

Applications

Much remains to be learned about the causes of colic and specific preventive and treatment strategies. Given the current state of knowledge, however, it appears reasonable to recommend dietitian-managed, trial elimination of cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, cow's milk, onion, and/or chocolate from the diets of women exclusively breast-feeding infants known to have colic symptoms. Particular attention should be paid to the adequacy of diets that have eliminated cow's milk.

The sincere gratitude of

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