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Cited by 195Infant Health and DevelopmentInfant Nutrition and HealthBreastfeeding Practices and Influences

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 13 of the 13 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Breastfeeding may improve nocturnal sleep and reduce infantile colic: Potential role of breast milk melatonin

Cohen Engler, Anat, Hadash, Amir, Shehadeh, Naim, Pillar, Giora·2012·European Journal of Pediatrics
DOI 10.1007/s00431-011-1659-3
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Abstract

Unlabelled Melatonin is secreted during the night in adults but not in infants. It has a hypnotic effect as well as a relaxing effect on the smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal tract. It is plausible that breast milk, which consists of melatonin, may have an effect on improving infants' sleep and reducing infantile colic. Our first goal was to assess the differences in the prevalence and severity of infantile colic and nocturnal sleep between breast-fed infants and supplement-fed infants. The second was to characterize the profile of melatonin secretion in human breast milk compared to artificial formulas. Ninety-four mothers of healthy 2 to 4-month-old infants filled a questionnaire regarding irritability/potential infantile colic and sleep characteristics. For the second part, we measured melatonin levels in breast milk of five women every 2 h during 24 h and in three samples of commonly used artificial formulas. Exclusively breast-fed infants had a significantly lower incidence of colic attacks (p = 0.04), lower severity of irritability attacks (p = 0.03), and a trend for longer nocturnal sleep duration (p = 0.06). Melatonin in human milk showed a clear circadian curve and was unmeasurable in all artificial milks.Conclusions Exclusive breastfeeding is associated with reduced irritability/colic and a tendency toward longer nocturnal sleep. Breast milk (nocturnal) consists of substantial melatonin levels, whereas artificial formulas do not. We speculate that melatonin which is supplied to the infant via breast milk plays a role in improving sleep and reducing colic in breast-fed infants compared to formula-fed ones.

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Crossref · 10.1007/s00431-011-1659-3

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Saavedra MA, da Costa JS, Garcias G, Horta BL, Tomasi E, Mendonça R (2003) Infantile colic incidence and associated risk factors: a cohort study. J Pediatr (Rio J) 79:115–122

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Metadata

Authors
Cohen Engler, A., Hadash, A., Shehadeh, N., & Pillar, G.
Affiliations
  • Rambam Health Care Campus (IL)
  • Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (IL)
ORCID
Venue
European Journal of Pediatrics
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2011-12-29
Volume
171
Issue
4
Pages
729-732
ISSN
  • 0340-6199 (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-1076
DOI
10.1007/s00431-011-1659-3
OpenAlex
W2059977935
Cited by
195
References
12
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 2
FWCI
13.59
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • European Journal of Pediatrics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Infant Health and Development
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Infant Nutrition and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Breastfeeding Practices and Influences
Keywords
breastfeeding, infantile colic, melatonin, breast milk, nocturnal sleep, infant irritability, infant formula, exclusive breastfeeding, formula-fed infants
MeSH terms
Adult, Breast Feeding, Colic, Female, Humans, Melatonin, Milk, Human, Sleep

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