Effects of Exercise and Yogurt on Bone Mineral Density and Immunological Factors in Human Milk: The MEEMA Study

Stopped early · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Lactational Amenorrhea, Body Weight Changes, Bone Loss

In brief

Obesity in America has risen to epidemic levels over the past 20 years. For women, childbearing itself could be a contributing factor to this high prevalence of excess weight. In addition, for women who breastfeed, lactation is a time of rapid bone loss due to hyperprolactinemia, amenorrhea, and increased bone turnover, especially in the lumbar spine and hip. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, continue to at least 12 months with the introduction of complementary foods and up to 2 years. Breastfeeding helps reduce long term maternal weight retention from pregnancy, the risk of childhood obesity and provides a number of immunological factors to promote the immune system and gastrointestinal system of the neonate. Bone loss due to lactation is usually reversed with weaning; however, not all women recover from this bone loss which increases the risk of osteoporosis later in life. Weight bearing exercise and dairy intake (milk, yogurt, cheese) plus vitamin D supplementation may provide some protection from bone loss. Thus, the objective of this study is to promote long-term lifestyle changes that support healthy lifelong weight management through a community based exercise intervention and daily yogurt consumption program aimed at overweight- to- obese lactating postpartum women.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT03732261

Run by

North Carolina Agriculture & Technical State University

People needed

13

Starts

2019-04-01

Expected to finish

2020-12-30

Last updated by the study team

2023-03-23

Who can join

Age: 25 and older, up to 40. Sex: female. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• women must be at least 2 weeks postpartum
• be between the ages of 25 to 40
• have a self-reported body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 35 kg/m2
• be fully breastfeeding (< 4 oz of formula given to the infant only on occasion)
• be sedentary for the past 3 months (< 3 weekly sessions of moderate aerobic activity)
• be non-smokers
• had a singleton birth.

You may not qualify if…

• delivery by cesarean section
• have medical complications where exercise was contraindicated
• have an inability to consume yogurt (i.e. maternal or infant allergies/intolerance to the dairy protein or sugar) or
• a have diagnosis with a disease that affects hormone levels.

Where it is running

• North Carolina A&T State University — Greensboro, North Carolina, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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