Breast milk and complementary food intake in Brazilian infants according to socio-economic position

Objective. (a) To compare breast milk and complementary food intake between breast-fed infants from high and low socio-economic status (SES) aged 8 months of age; (b) To compare these intakes with PAHO/WHO recommendations. Methods. Cross-sectional, community-based study in Pelotas, Brazil. Breast milk and complementary food intake were compared between 8-month-old infants from high (n=35) and low SES (n=30). Breast milk intake was measured using the 'dose-to-the mother' deuterium-oxide turnover method; complementary food intake was assessed using a questionnaire and by 24 hours food weighing. Results. Energy intake from breast milk (51.1 +/- 26.4 kcal/kg/d) was not different between social groups, being in line with current recommendations. However, energy intake from complementary foods (34.5 +/- 22.7 kcal/kg/d) and from milk, including breast milk, cow's milk and formula (60.1 +/- 19.6 kcal/kg/d), were significantly higher than recommendations. Total energy intake was 20% higher than recommended (93.3 +/- 24.4 versus 77.3 kcal/kg/day, p