Assessment of Abbreviated Techniques for Determination of Milk Volume Intake of the Human Milk-Fed Infant

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Abstract
Two recently proposed abbreviated techniques for estimation of 24-h milk intake of the breast-fed infant were evaluated as to whether they could serve as appropriate substitues for measured 24-h intakes. One technique involves the doubling of 12-h milk intakes, whereas the other uses the product of the mean of 2 consecutive midpoint feedings and the frequency of nursing for the defined 24-h period. Data from 3 consecutive 24-h intake measurements at 4, 8, and 12 wk on 22 solely breast-fed infants were used for the evaluation. Correlational and paired t test analyses were conducted to compare intakes from each abbreviated technique with measured intakes. All calculated intakes derived from doubling 12-h periods commencing in the morning exceeded values obtained for full-day measures. These overestimations resulted from higher milk consumption during the early hours of the day, with proportionate intakes ranging from 0.55 to 0.77. Doubled half-day calculations initiated later in the day (1400 h-0200h) were similar to mean measured 24-h intakes, with proportionate intakes ranging from 0.47 to 0.51. Correlations between all calculated intakes and measured intakes ranged from 0.51 (P = 0.111) to 0.93 (P = 0.001). Estimated mean intakes derived by the method utilizing nursing frequency and the mean for 2 nursings were similar to measured 24-h mean intakes. Correlations between such 24-h calculated and measured intakes ranged from 0.70 (P = 0.001) to 0.97 (P < 0.001). Results indicate that doubled half-day measures involving the 1400 h-0200 h time frame and estimated intakes calculated from nursing frequency and the mean for 2 nursings may be appropriate approaches for population studies. However, such abbreviated techniques cannot be supported as substitutes for measured 24-h intakes for indiviudal infants.

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