The influence of the fullness of milk in the breasts on the concentration of lactic acid in postexercise breast milk.

The purpose of this study was to observe the influence of the fullness of breast milk in the breasts prior to exercise on the concentration of lactic acid in breast milk following exercise. Twenty-three lactating women were randomly assigned to Group E (n = 11), which nursed and/or collected as much of the breast milk as possible prior to maximal exercise, and Group F (n = 12), which did not nurse or collect milk at least two hours prior to maximal exercise. Milk was collected at rest preexercise and 10, 30, 60 and 90 minutes postexercise and was analyzed for concentrations of lactic acid. ANOVA demonstrated 1) a significant increase in lactic acid in the milk at all postexercise collections for both groups and 2) a significant group vs postexercise time interaction for lactic acid concentration in milk. These differences represented differences in 1) time to peak lactic acid concentrations in milk (Group F = 10 min; Group E = 30 min) and 2) time for postexercise decreases in lactic acid concentrations in milk. Thus, the state of fullness of milk in the breasts is a factor which affects the concentration of lactic acid in breast milk following maximal exercise.