Milk Volume in Lactating Mothers in Pastoral Communities in Pokot, Kenya, Using Deuterium Oxide

ternal mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) and body mass index (BMI) were 21.8 (0.9) cm and 18.6 (1.0) kg/ height (m 2), respectively. Infant weight and weight/age Z score were 4.956 (0.874) kg and –1.750 (0.77), respec-tively. Throughout the study, the infants gained 20 (4) g/day in body weight and had a milk intake of 555 (22) ml/day. The energy intake of the infant was 1,602 (148) kJ/day and was lower (p ! 0.05) than the 2,404 (423) kJ/day estimated requirement by the FAO/WHO/ UNU. The maternal FFM, %BF, Hb, Hct, ferritin and reti-nol were 32.8 (3.1) kg, 17.24 (7.0), 11.5 (1.3) g/dl, 33.9 (4.9), 16.2 (0.1) g/l and 0.894 (0.16) mol/l, respectively. Infant milk intake was signifi cantly and positively corre-lated to maternal pregnancy triceps (r = 0.679) p ! 0.05) and pregnancy MUAC (r = 0.725) p ! 0.05). Maternal pregnancy MUAC was an important predictor of infant breast milk intake. Conclusion: Data on volume of breast milk consumed by the infants suggests, at least for this group of infants, that adequate growth may not be achieved. There is a possibility that lactating mothers practicing exclusive breast-feeding and living under harsh conditions may experience periods of low breast milk volume. Body composition and biochemical fi nd-ings among this group of Pokot mothers indicate dietary inadequacies that require nutritional intervention