Dairy and Growth, Latest Findings, and Lessons Learned.
BACKGROUND
Low birth weight is a significant risk factor in infant mortality and morbidity and the likelihood of chronic and clinical disease in later life.


OBJECTIVE
To identify reported associations between maternal dietary patterns and risk of low birth weight offspring.


METHODS
This article reviews some of the literature on this subject, with emphasis on maternal intake of dairy products.


RESULTS
Published data show a positive association between maternal dairy product intake and birth weight but are inconclusive with respect to fetal length. While data are limited, 2 studies have reported a positive association between maternal consumption of milk and yogurt and birth weight, but this association is not observed with respect to consumption of cheese.


CONCLUSION
If correct, by deduction, this observation is suggestive that whey protein may be a contributing factor to birth weight. Indirect evidence supporting why this observation merits further investigation is presented.
['Clark|David C|DC|']
D000818:Animals D001724:Birth Weight D002611:Cheese D003611:Dairy Products D004032:Diet D005260:Female D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation D006128:Growth D006801:Humans D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight D007231:Infant, Newborn D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena D008892:Milk D008894:Milk Proteins D011247:Pregnancy D000067816:Whey Proteins D015014:Yogurt
low birth weight whey protein maternal nutrition pregnancy