The association of maternal plant-based diets and the growth of breastfed infants

Abstract

Background: Studies are needed to further understand how different plant-based dietary patterns of mothers relate to infant growth. Thus, we investigated the association between maternal plant-based diets and infant growth in breastfed infants during the first 4 months of life. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 290 Iranian mothers and infants. Maternal dietary intake was assessed using a 168-question validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Three plant-based diet indices (PDIs) were then created to evaluate dietary intakes. Eighteen food groups were classified in three main categories by scoring method: whole plant diet, healthy plant diet, and animal and unhealthy plant diet. Results: Participants in the top tertile of unhealthy PDI (uPDI) had a lower intake of potassium, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, calcium, folate and vitamin C, B1, B2, and B3. The upper tertile of uPDI was associated with stunting at 4-month in infants (uPDI: odds ratio OR = 3.27, 95% CI= 1.32, 8.10). There were no significant associations between plant-based diet scores and anthropometric indices, including weight, weight status and head circumference (P > 0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, higher adherence to uPDI may be associated with stunting among Iranian infants. Other PDIs were not associated with anthropometric measures. Future studies are needed to further understand the association between plant-based diets and infant growth.