Abstract

Introduction: The many advantages of exclusively breast feeding infants are documented breast-feeding enhances the growth and development of breast fed infants. The impact of Ramadan fasting by breast-feeding mothers on the growth parameters of exclusively breast-fed infants is still not clear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of maternal fasting during Ramadan on the growth parameters of their exclusively breast-fed infants. Material and methods: This cohort study was performed throughout Ramadan and for five months after, on healthy, exclusive breast-fed infants (n=116), aged between 15 days to 6 months, assigned into two groups, based on their mothers fasting: Control group (n=80) and fasting group (infants with fasting mothers: n=36). All infants underwent periodic physical examinations twice in Ramadan, 3 times in the second month and then twice monthly in next 4 months. The infant’s growth status was evaluated by calculating each growth parameters (weight, height, head circumference) as a percentage of the median value for age, based on appropriate growth charts. Results: The mean age of infants in the case group was 3.43 ± 1.38 and in the control group was 2.31±1.45 months, age being significantly different between the two groups (P<0.05). Fifty-four (46.6%) were boys and this proportion was the same in both groups (P>0.05). According to the repeated measures ANOVA, all growth parameters increased during the study period (P< 0.05) but the rate of increaseing was the same for both groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: Ramadan fasting by breast-feeding mothers did not adversely affect on the growth parameters of exclusively breast-fed infants.