Science says that breastfeeding is the best option for your baby. Human milk is the best food for infants as it has tons of nutrients that help them grow healthy and strong. That is why, if you have the choice, your healthcare provider will recommend that you breastfeed.

However, there’s an aspect of the nutrients in human milk that experts still haven’t figured out: the quantity of lipids it provides to your baby.

What are lipids?

Also known as fat, they are a family of compounds that provide energy to our bodies. Although we commonly think of fat as something unhealthy, together with carbs and protein, it’s an essential part of our nutritional needs.

Studies have shown that the lipid intake each baby receives can vary a lot. This is because the quantity of lipids that there is in each mom’s milk can be very different. Also, although studies consider that the average baby drinks 27 ounces of milk per day (about 800 milliliters), this quantity can vary.

In this study, researchers compared different methods to estimate babies’ lipid intake. They monitored 20 breastfeeding moms and their babies from 1 to 6 months.

The study used 11 different methods to estimate the quantity of lipid and overall milk the infants received and compared it to the actual intake. Moms had to take milk samples before and after breastfeeding their babies, and they also had to weigh them before and after to estimate milk intake.

Results showed some interesting facts.

Samples that were taken before breastfeeding had a much higher level of lipids than samples taken afterward. The lipid concentration also changed during the day, being higher in the morning than afternoon and evening. However, there weren’t any significant differences between months.

Researchers also found that, depending on what methods were used, the lipid intake calculation varies significantly. They believe that the complexity of these methodologies explains why previous studies might have been inaccurate when estimating the quantity of lipids babies receive through breastfeeding.

Some methods disregard up to 8 grams of lipid the infant wouldn’t receive. This is very important, as it means that a child could be lacking more than 15% of the required energy intake for a 1-month-old baby.

In conclusion, the study shows that, behind some babies’ growth problems, there might be a lipid deficiency that can be easily overlooked by healthcare providers.