Some medications could impact the nutrients in a mum's breastmilk

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-01-08 03:00

International

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Taking SSRI antidepressants or systemic steroid medications could impact the macronutrients in your breastmilk, according to international research. The team tested breastmilk samples from 63 mothers taking antidepressants, 106, taking long-term anti-inflammatory medications, 141 mothers with similar conditions who were not on medication and 64 healthy mothers of a similar demographic. The researchers say lower levels of protein and fat were associated with some of the medications they looked at. However, they say the average macronutrient levels were within the normal range for all groups, so while more research could be done, breastfeeding recommendations for women taking these medications should remain the same.

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Journal/
conference: JAMA Network Open

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: Karolinska Institutet, Sweden

Funder: The University of California (UC) San Diego Human Milk Biorepository is funded by the UC San Diego Center for Better Beginnings (to Dr Chambers); the National Institutes of Health, grant Nos. UL1TR001442 (to Dr Firestein), and P50HD106463 (to Dr Tremoulet); and the Gerber Foundation, project Nos. 4998 and 6488 (to Dr Chambers). This work was also funded by The Swedish Research Council, grant No. 2023-0023; The Söderström Königska Foundation, grant No. SLS-994869; The Swedish Freemasons Order; The Samaritanean Foundation; The Edith and Erik Fernstrom Foundation, grant No. 2023-00278; The Swedish Doctors Association, grant No. SLS-986067; and Karolinska Institutet Travel Grant, grant No. 2023-02289 (to Dr Whaites Heinonen).

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