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Maternal, Perinatal and Pediatric Nutrition (Poster Session)

(P10-091-24) Prevalence of Non-exclusive Breastfeeding in the Context of Vitamin D Supplementation During Pregnancy and Lactation in Bangladesh

Sunday, June 30, 2024
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM CT
Location: Poster Board 585

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Sarah M. Scott

    Student
    The Pennsylvania State University, Nutritional Sciences
    University park, Pennsylvania, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • RW

    Rachel E. Walker, PhD

    Postdoctoral Research Fellow
    The Pennsylvania State University
    University Park, Pennsylvania, United States

  • MI

    M. Munirul Islam, PhD

    International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh
    Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

  • AA

    Abdullah Al Mahmud

    Shield Pharmaceuticals Corp. New York, United States

  • AG

    Alison D. Gernand, PhD, MPH

    Assistant Professor
    The Pennsylvania State University
    University Park, Pennsylvania, United States

Disclosure(s):
Sarah M. Scott: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Rachel E. Walker, PhD: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.


Objectives: Vitamin D deficiency is a global health issue and may impact milk supply through modulating mammary inflammation and lipid metabolism. However, data is limited on the role of vitamin D in lactation outcomes. We aimed to examine the impact of vitamin D supplementation on exclusive breastfeeding prevalence during early infancy.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial of maternal vitamin D supplementation in Dhaka, Bangladesh. In this study, participants received either prenatal vitamin D (4200 IU/wk, n=229; 16000 IU/wk, n=224; or 28000 IU/wk, n=221), both prenatal and postpartum vitamin D (28000 IU/wk; n=227), or placebo (n=223). The outcomes measured were exclusive compared to non-exclusive breastfeeding at 2 weeks (±1 week) and one month (4 weeks[GD1] [WRE2]  ±1 week) of age. Exclusive breastfeeding was defined as only breastmilk fed to the infant for the past 7 days (maternal self-report). A log binomial regression was performed to calculate the relative prevalence of non-exclusive breastfeeding with vitamin D supplementation group (PR [95% CI]).

Results: Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in the entire cohort was 89% at 2 weeks and 84% at 1 month. Only prenatal 4200 IU/wk vitamin D resulted in lower prevalence of non-exclusive breastfeeding at 2 weeks (0.54 [0.31, 0.93]) vs. placebo. Both prenatal 4200 IU/wk vitamin D and prenatal/postpartum 28000 IU/wk vitamin D resulted in lower prevalence of non-exclusive breastfeeding at one month (Prenatal 4200 IU: 0.44 [0.27, 0.70]; Prenatal/Postpartum 28000 IU: 0.58 [0.38, 0.89]. Prevalences with other prenatal doses were not different from placebo. Results were similar when adjusting for gestational age, parity, maternal age, and birth mode (cesarean vs. vaginal).

Conclusions: The prevalence of non-exclusive breastfeeding was lower in early infancy among mothers receiving vitamin D supplements during pregnancy and lactation, but results were inconsistent across supplementation dosage groups.

Funding Sources: Penn State Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences - HITS grant; Penn State College of Health and Human Development