Journal Articles

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/7915

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    Saccharomyces cerevisiae Yeast-Based Supplement and Breast Milk Supply: A Randomised Placebo-Controlled Trial
    (John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2025-09-11) Jia L; Brough L; Weber JL
    Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast-based supplements (SCYS) are frequently used as galactagogues with limited evidence of their efficacy. This study investigates the effect of SCYS on human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) concentration and indicators of milk supply. Sixty-eight breastfeeding women with a healthy singleton infant aged 1–7 months were randomly assigned to consume a SCYS product (5 g/day) or placebo for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in the total HMO concentration. The secondary outcomes included participants' perceptions of milk supply, intervention effectiveness, postnatal distress, infant feeding patterns, infant anthropometry, and adverse effects. Intention-to-treat analysis was performed. Multivariable linear regression analysis showed no significant effect of SCYS on individual or total HMO concentrations. However, 65% of women in the SCYS group, compared to 35% in the placebo group, perceived an increase in milk production (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found for other secondary outcomes. However, mothers in the SCYS group had a small but significant improvement in perception of their milk quantity and quality (p < 0.05). SCYS use was also associated with significantly lower formula use at 6 months postpartum (4% vs. 27%, p < 0.05). While SCYS does not impact HMO concentration, it may improve women's perceptions of milk supply. A larger randomised controlled trial is needed to assess its potential effects on actual milk production and composition and address issues of perceived insufficient milk. Trial Registration: This trial was registered at the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (trial registration number: ACTRN12619000704190).
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    Food Group Consumption and Nutrient Intake by Breastfeeding Women: Comparison to Current Dietary Guidelines and Nutrient Recommendations.
    (MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2025-01-21) Jin Y; Coad J; Brough L; Billeaud C; Asher O
    BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Optimal nutrition is essential for the health of breastfeeding women and their infants. This study aimed to assess food and nutrient intake and alignment with nutrition guidelines for breastfeeding women living in New Zealand. METHODS: Seventy-six breastfeeding women were enrolled in the longitudinal Mother and Infant Nutrition Investigation study and completed a weighed four-day diet diary including supplement use at three months postpartum. The number of servings consumed for each food group were calculated based on the 2020 Eating and Activity Guidelines for New Zealand Adults. Nutrient intakes were compared to the nutrient reference values for Australia and New Zealand. RESULTS: Overall, the percentages of women who met the recommended number of servings for fruits, vegetables, grain foods, meats and milk/milk products were 25%, 0%, 5%, 34%, and 13%, respectively. None of women met the current recommendations for all food groups. Many participants had intakes below the estimated average requirement or adequate intake and were at risk of nutrient inadequacy for vitamin E (55%), vitamin D (53%), manganese (61%), and selenium (55%). CONCLUSIONS: Breastfeeding women had a low alignment with the current dietary guidelines and were at risk of an inadequate intake of vitamin E, D, manganese, and selenium. Research to investigate the barriers and enablers of healthy food choices is needed.
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    Adherence to Infant Feeding Guidelines in the First Foods New Zealand Study.
    (MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2023-11-02) Brown KJ; Beck KL; Von Hurst P; Heath A-L; Taylor R; Haszard J; Daniels L; Te Morenga L; McArthur J; Paul R; Jones E; Katiforis I; Rowan M; Casale M; McLean N; Cox A; Fleming E; Bruckner B; Jupiterwala R; Wei A; Conlon C; Rodríguez Martínez G
    Infant feeding guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations to support optimal infant health, growth, and development, and exploring adherence to guidelines is a useful way of assessing diet quality. The aim of this study was to determine adherence to the recently updated Ministry of Health "Healthy Eating Guidelines for New Zealand Babies and Toddlers (0-2 years old)". Data were obtained from First Foods New Zealand, a multicentre observational study of 625 infants aged 7.0-10.0 months. Caregivers completed two 24-h diet recalls and a demographic and feeding questionnaire. Nearly all caregivers (97.9%) initiated breastfeeding, 37.8% exclusively breastfed to around six months of age, and 66.2% were currently breastfeeding (mean age 8.4 months). Most caregivers met recommendations for solid food introduction, including appropriate age (75.4%), iron-rich foods (88.3%), puréed textures (80.3%), and spoon-feeding (74.1%). Infants consumed vegetables (63.2%) and fruit (53.9%) more frequently than grain foods (49.5%), milk and milk products (38.6%), and meat and protein-rich foods (31.8%). Most caregivers avoided inappropriate beverages (93.9%) and adding salt (76.5%) and sugar (90.6%). Our findings indicated that while most infants met the recommendations for the introduction of appropriate solid foods, the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding could be improved, indicating that New Zealand families may need more support.
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    Saccharomyces cerevisiae Yeast-Based Supplementation as a Galactagogue in Breastfeeding Women? A Review of Evidence from Animal and Human Studies
    (MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2021-03) Jia LL; Brough L; Weber JL; Demmelmair H
    Perceived insufficient milk production (PIM) adversely affects breastfeeding duration. Women sometimes use galactagogues with the intent to increase breast milk production and support lactation. Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast-based supplement (SCYS) is an inactive form of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast (SCY) either obtained from the fermentation process or grown on molasses. Anecdotal evidence suggests SCYS is a galactagogue. SCYS is promoted on the internet as a galactagogue in various forms and doses. Dietary supplementation with SCYS during gestation and lactation significantly increases milk yield in ruminants. No human study has evaluated efficacy of SCYS as a galactagogue. SCYS is rich in B vitamins, beta-glucan, mannan oligosaccharides and bioavailable chromium; these may impact breast milk production or composition, thus may alleviate PIM. The safety of taking SCYS during lactation is not well studied. Studies have reported contamination of SCYS with ochratoxin A (OTA) as well as minor side effects from SCYS. Studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of SCYS on breast milk production and composition and to assess the safety of taking SCYS during lactation in humans.