Association of Maternal Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods with Feeding Practices and Malnutrition in Breastfed Infants: A Cross-Sectional Study

Juliana Morais de Sousa, Danielle Soares Bezerra, Lara Virginia Pessoa de Lima, Priscila Gomes de Oliveira, Nicolie Mattenhauer de Oliveira, Elias Kelvin Severiano de Araújo, Lígia Rejane Siqueira Garcia, Juliana Fernandes dos Santos Dametto and Karla Danielly da Silva Ribeiro ()
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Juliana Morais de Sousa: Post Graduate Program in Nutrition, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59.078-970, RN, Brazil
Danielle Soares Bezerra: Health Sciences College of Trairi, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Santa Cruz 59200-000, RN, Brazil
Lara Virginia Pessoa de Lima: Post Graduate Program in Nutrition, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59.078-970, RN, Brazil
Priscila Gomes de Oliveira: Post Graduate Program in Nutrition, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59.078-970, RN, Brazil
Nicolie Mattenhauer de Oliveira: Independent Researcher, Natal 59141-185, RN, Brazil
Elias Kelvin Severiano de Araújo: Post Graduate Program in Nutrition, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59.078-970, RN, Brazil
Lígia Rejane Siqueira Garcia: Health Sciences College of Trairi, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Santa Cruz 59200-000, RN, Brazil
Juliana Fernandes dos Santos Dametto: Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Senador Salgado Filho Avenue, University Campus, Natal 59.078-970, RN, Brazil
Karla Danielly da Silva Ribeiro: Post Graduate Program in Nutrition, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59.078-970, RN, Brazil

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 4, 1-14

Abstract: Although the adverse health effects of consuming ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are well-documented, limited evidence exists on their impact during lactation. This study examined the association between maternal UPF consumption, feeding practices, and malnutrition in breastfed infants. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted with 111 mother–child pairs up to 150 days postpartum. Infant feeding practices were assessed using WHO indicators, and malnutrition was evaluated by length-for-age and BMI-for-age. Maternal dietary intake was estimated using two 24 h recalls, and UPF consumption was classified by the Nova classification. Dyads were grouped based on the highest UPF consumption quartile, and adjusted binary logistic regression was applied. UPFs accounted for 26% of the maternal diet on average. While 71.2% of infants were exclusively breastfed, one-third were overweight, and 11.7% were stunted. High maternal UPF consumption (>32% of energy) was associated with increased odds of malnutrition by BMI-for-age (wasting or overweight) (OR 3.38; 95% CI: 1.29–8.83) and stunting (OR 3.89; 95% CI: 1.04–14.58). Feeding practices showed no association. These findings highlight that maternal UPF consumption is associated with malnutrition odds in breastfed infants in the population assessed, emphasizing the need for dietary guidance during lactation to improve infant health outcomes.

Keywords: Nova classification; maternal nutrition; stunting; child nutrition; overweight; breastfeeding; lactation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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