IAEA Urges Increased Global Participation in Human Milk Intake Database to Enhance Breastfeeding Insights

This initiative aims to leverage data from a nuclear technique that accurately measures breast milk consumption and determines the exclusivity of breastfeeding.

In celebration of World Breastfeeding Week, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is calling for more countries to contribute to its Database on Human Milk Intake. This initiative aims to leverage data from a nuclear technique that accurately measures breast milk consumption and determines the exclusivity of breastfeeding.

World Breastfeeding Week, observed in the first week of August, promotes the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding. According to the World Health Organization, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life shields infants from infections and reduces mortality rates.

The IAEA's Database on Human Milk Intake, which has compiled data from 34 countries using the deuterium oxide dose-to-mother (DTM) technique, provides valuable insights into how much breast milk infants consume and whether they are exclusively breastfed. Despite the progress, the database lacks sufficient data from high-income countries, hindering a comprehensive understanding of global breastfeeding practices and disparities.

“The evidence we have so far is limited to a few countries, mostly from the Global South. To draw more robust conclusions and support policy development, we need broader data, including from the Global North,” says Victor Ochieng Owino, a nutrition specialist at the IAEA.

The DTM technique, which tracks deuterium, a stable isotope of hydrogen, as it transfers from mother to infant, offers a more precise measurement of breastfeeding exclusivity than self-reported data. The IAEA encourages more countries to adopt this non-invasive method to monitor progress towards exclusive breastfeeding targets.

Cornelia Loechl, Head of the Nutritional and Health-Related Environmental Studies Section at the IAEA, explains, “Our goal with the Database on Human Milk is to create a comprehensive global repository of DTM data. This will facilitate in-depth analyses and improve our understanding of breastfeeding behaviors and their determinants, leading to more effective interventions.”

The DTM data is already influencing public health policies. For instance, a study in Mauritania revealed that awareness campaigns significantly increased exclusive breastfeeding rates in targeted areas. Similarly, in South Africa, mentoring and counseling programs improved exclusive breastfeeding rates. Additionally, research in Western Kenya linked food insecurity with reduced breast milk intake, highlighting the impact of maternal nutrition on breastfeeding.

Launched in 2022, the IAEA’s human milk intake database continues to expand, offering insights into the relationships between breastfeeding practices and various factors like socio-economic status. A recent analysis using the database suggested that maternal education level may not significantly impact breast milk intake, although trends in countries with lower Human Development Index (HDI) indicated higher breast milk intake. This underscores the need for more comprehensive data from diverse contexts.

Breastfeeding is integral to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It combats malnutrition, protects infants from infections, and supports maternal health by reducing the risk of certain diseases. Expanding the database with global data is crucial for closing evidence gaps and improving breastfeeding practices to benefit future generations.