Department of Reproductive Health and Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Department of Reproductive Health and Midwifery, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1996713883, Iran.
Sci Rep. 2023 Nov 2;13(1):18896. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-46441-0.
Human milk feeding can support premature infants to thrive. Yet those with premature infants can be challenged in human milk production. Considering this, and the use of potentially harmful human milk enhancers, the present study was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of orally consumed Lactuca sativa (L. sativa) syrup (lettuce extract) on human milk volume and subsequent weight gain in the preterm infant. Extracts from lettuce and other plants such as silymarin are already evidenced to be safe for use during lactation and have other therapeutic effects in humans. Yet this is the first study of its kind. This parallel randomized clinical trial included lactating participants with their preterm infants who were born at < 32 weeks' gestation and admitted to an intensive care unit. Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants. Eligible participants were allocated to groups randomly: intervention (n = 47), placebo (n = 46), and control (n = 47). The intervention group received one tablespoon of Lactuca sativa (L. sativa) syrup, and the placebo group received one tablespoon of placebo syrup 3 times a day for 1 week. Those in the control group did not receive any herbal or chemical milk-enhancing compounds. Routine care was provided to all three groups. Participants recorded their milk volume for 7 days in a daily information recorder form. Infant weight was measured prior to the intervention, and on the third, fifth and seventh days of the intervention period. There was a statistically significant difference observed in the adjusted mean volume of milk on the fourth and fifth days between the intervention, placebo, and control groups (P < 0.05). The adjusted mean milk volume of those in the intervention group on the first day was significantly higher than those in the control group and those in the placebo group. On the second day, the adjusted mean milk volume of those in the intervention group was higher than in those from the control group; and on the fourth day it was higher than in those from both the control and placebo groups; on the fifth day it was higher than in those in the placebo group; on the sixth day it was higher than in those in the control group and on the seventh day it was higher than in those in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in terms of the mean changes (with or without adjustment) in the weight of preterm infants between any of the groups. Lactuca sativa (L. sativa) syrup increases the volume of human milk production and no specific side effects have been reported in its use. Therefore, Lactuca sativa syrup can be recommended for use as one of the compounds that increase human milk volume.
人乳喂养可以促进早产儿的生长发育。然而，那些有早产儿的人在人乳生产方面可能会面临挑战。考虑到这一点，以及使用潜在有害的人乳增强剂，本研究旨在确定口服食用 Lactuca sativa（生菜）糖浆（生菜提取物）对早产儿人乳量和随后体重增加的影响。生菜和其他植物（如水飞蓟素）的提取物已被证明在哺乳期使用是安全的，并且对人类具有其他治疗作用。然而，这是此类研究中的首例。这项平行随机临床试验纳入了出生胎龄<32 周并入住重症监护病房的哺乳期参与者及其早产儿。采用方便抽样招募参与者。符合条件的参与者被随机分配到以下组：干预组（n=47）、安慰剂组（n=46）和对照组（n=47）。干预组每天服用一汤匙生菜糖浆，安慰剂组每天服用一汤匙安慰剂糖浆，每天 3 次，持续 1 周。对照组未接受任何草药或化学增强人乳的化合物。所有三组均接受常规护理。参与者在每日信息记录器表中记录了 7 天的人乳量。在干预前、干预第 3 天、第 5 天和第 7 天测量婴儿体重。干预组、安慰剂组和对照组在第 4 天和第 5 天的平均人乳量差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。干预组第 1 天的平均人乳量明显高于对照组和安慰剂组。第 2 天，干预组的平均人乳量高于对照组；第 4 天，高于对照组和安慰剂组；第 5 天，高于安慰剂组；第 6 天，高于对照组；第 7 天，高于对照组（P<0.05）。在任何一组中，早产儿体重的平均变化（调整后或未调整）之间均无统计学意义。生菜糖浆增加了人乳的产量，并且在使用过程中没有报告特定的副作用。因此，生菜糖浆可以推荐作为增加人乳量的化合物之一。
