Breast milk feeding in infants with inherited metabolic disorders other than phenylketonuria - a 10-year single-center experience.

BACKGROUND

Published data on breast milk feeding in infants suffering from inherited metabolic disorders (IMDs) other than phenylketonuria (PKU) are limited and described outcome is variable.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate retrospectively whether breastfeeding and/or breast milk feeding are feasible in infants with IMDs including organic acidemias, fatty acid oxidation disorders, urea cycle disorders, aminoacidopathies or disorders of galactose metabolism.

METHODS

Data on breastfeeding and breast milk feeding as well as monitoring and neurological outcome were collected retrospectively from our database of patients with the mentioned IMD, who were followed in our metabolic center within the last 10 years.

RESULTS

Twenty patients were included in the study, who were either breast fed on demand or received expressed breast milk. All the infants were evaluated clinically and biochemically at 2-4-week intervals, with weight gain as the leading parameter to determine metabolic control. Good metabolic control and adequate neurological development were achieved in all patients but one, who experienced the only metabolic crisis observed within the study period.

CONCLUSION

Breast milk feeding with close clinical and biochemical monitoring is feasible in most IMD and should be considered as it offers nutritional and immunological benefits.