Ultra-processed foods intake and vitamin E concentration in breast milk and sérum of lactating woman
Food Processing, Food Lactation, Breastfeeding. Intakes,
The ultra-processed foods intake can lead to the appearance of non-communicable chronic diseases, inadequate micronutrient intake, among other health problems. Thus, it is important to evaluate this consumption during lactation and its impact on milk composition and maternal nutritional status, because maternal feeding should ensure an adequate nutritional composition for breast milk, thus avoiding the establishment of micronutrient deficiency, such as vitamin E deficiency. This study aimed to evaluate the consumption of ultra-processed foods and their relationship with dietary intake and vitamin E concentration of milk and serum in lactating women. The study was cross-sectional, using a database of two cohorts conducted with postpartum women attended in Natal-RN and Santa Cruz-RN. Food intake was obtained by three 24-hour Recalls, analyzed according to the Brazilian Food Composition Table (TACO) and the United States Department Agriculture (USDA) table. The foods were classified according to the NOVA classification in in natura or minimally processed, processed culinary ingredients, processed and ultra-processed. Participants were divided into tertiles according to the caloric contribution of ultra-processed foods to total calories consumed. Consumption of in natura or minimally processed foods contributed 51% of caloric intake, followed by 18% of processed culinary ingredients, 15% of processed foods and 16% of ultra- processed foods. When dividing by tertiles of ultra-processed consumption, significant differences were observed between the consumption of calories, total fat and monounsaturated fat, and the consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with caloric intake, fat and vitamin E (p<0,05). There was no significant difference in the concentration of alpha-tocopherol in breast milk between tertiles of consumption, but a higher concentration of alpha-tocopherol was found in the serum of women in the lowest tertile (<8.75%) of ultra- processed foods (p=0.038). Although the consumption of ultra- processed foods by lactating women was below that found in the Brazilian population, it was associated with higher energy and fat intake. In addition, a lower intake of ultra-processed foods conferred a protective effect of circulating vitamin E during lactation, which strengthens the importance of encouraging greater consumption of in natura and minimally processed foods during lactation.