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Total energy expenditure (H218O), physical activity level and milk output of lactating rural Bangladeshi tea workers and nontea workers

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 59, pages 632–638 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To assess the total daily energy expenditure (TDEE), milk output and physical activity level (PAL) of chronically malnourished lactating women using the doubly labelled water method (DLW)

Design:

Prospective, longitudinal study designed to assess the extent of malnutrition and energetics of lactating tea workers and nontea workers

Setting:

North-east Bangladesh on women working and living in the same tea estates.

Subjects:

Of an original cohort of 150 lactating women, 30 were selected to participate in this study when they were at about 12 months postpartum. One mother subsequently dropped out.

Interventions:

On day 1 each women provided a urine sample, was administered a dose of DLW and 6 h later provided another sample. Further urine samples were collected for 21 subsequent days. In addition, every 5 days the mother provided a milk sample and at the same time her baby provided a urine sample.

Results:

Mean (s.d.) BMI was 17.4 (1.63). Mean TDEE and PAL were significantly higher in workers than nonworkers (8.42 (1.38) and 6.83 (2.09) MJ/day, P=0.02 and 1.92 (0.34) and 1.59 (0.44), P=0.03, respectively). Mean milk output was similar in the two groups (672 (180) ml and 749 (189) ml in workers and nonworkers, respectively).

Conclusions:

Based on international BMI cutoffs, 79% of mothers were suffering from some degree of chronic energy deficiency. A total of 35% of workers and 17% of nonworkers were engaged in strenuous physical activity. The mean milk output of both workers and nonworkers was not different and was high especially as most of the mothers were about 12 months postpartum. No relationship was found between menses return and any of the variables studied.

Sponsorship:

World Health Organization, Nestlé Foundation, UNICEF

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Acknowledgements

Financial support for the project was provided by The World Health Organization, Nestlé Foundation, and UNICEF. We are very grateful to Mr AMSO Subhan of Duncan Brothers Limited, Bangladesh for allowing us to undertake this work in the Company's tea gardens. We thank RR Dutta, RL Paul, M Robidash and S Vinoy for valuable help during data collection. We also thank the women who participated in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) UPR 2147, Paris, France

    L Rosetta

  2. Department of Physiology and the Division of Nutrition, St John's Medical College, Bangalore, India

    A Kurpad

  3. Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Cambridge, UK

    C G N Mascie-Taylor

  4. Nutrition Planning, Assessment and Evaluation, Food and Nutrition Division, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Rome, Italy

    P S Shetty

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  1. L Rosetta
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Correspondence to L Rosetta.

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Guarantor: L Rosetta and PS Shetty.

Contributors: LR and CGN M-T were responsible for the design and conduct of the study, the statistical analysis, interpretation of the data, and writing the manuscript. AK and PSS were responsible for laboratory work and DLW data analysis. All the authors participated in editing the manuscript and provided advice regarding interpretation of the results. None of the contributing authors had any financial or personal interests in any of the bodies sponsoring this research.

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Rosetta, L., Kurpad, A., Mascie-Taylor, C. et al. Total energy expenditure (H218O), physical activity level and milk output of lactating rural Bangladeshi tea workers and nontea workers. Eur J Clin Nutr 59, 632–638 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602134

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