Table 1.
Characteristics of the omnivore human milk donors with full-term infants (Donors) and lactating vegetarian/vegan mothers (Veg).
| Characteristic | Donors (n = 92) | Veg (n = 20) | p Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 36.1 (4.2); 28–47 | 33.9 (5,2); 24–42 | 0.118 |
| Weight (kg) | 60.8 (55.3, 71.0); 46–122 | 61.1 (52.8, 64.9); 48–93 | 0.365 |
| Height (cm) | 164.2 (6.3); 152–158 | 163.1 (4.4); 155–172 | 0.493 |
| Pre-pregnancy BMI (kg/m2) | 22.3 (21.0, 25.0); 18.2–44.2 | 22.2 (20.1, 23.9); 18.0–34.3 | 0.436 |
| Pre-pregnancy BMI (kg/m2) category | |||
| Underweight (<18.5) | 1 (1.1%) | 2 (10.0%) | 0.135 |
| Normal (18.5–24.9) | 69 (75.0%) | 15 (75.0%) | |
| Overweight (25–29.9) | 12 (13.0%) | 2 (10.0%) | |
| Obese (≥30) | 10 (10.9%) | 1 (5.0%) | |
| Current BMI (kg/m2) | 23.1 (21.2, 25.0); 16.7–42.8 | 22.8 (20.5, 23.7); 18.3–38.9 | 0.287 |
| Current BMI (kg/m2) category | |||
| Underweight (<18.5) | 2 (2.2%) | 1 (5.0%) | 0.624 |
| Normal (18.5–24.9) | 67 (72.8%) | 16 (80.0%) | |
| Overweight (25–29.9) | 12 (13.0%) | 1 (5.0%) | |
| Obese (≥30) | 11 (12.0%) | 2 (10.0%) | |
| Gestational weight gain (kg) | 12.0 (9.2, 15.0); 5–30 | 11.0 (8.5, 12.2); 6–13.6 | 0.024 |
| Postpartum weight retention (kg) | 0.75 (−0.8–2.2); −12–11.8 | 0.7 (−1.8–3.2); −4.2–11.2 | 0.846 |
| Number of children | |||
| 1 | 48 (52.2%) | 14 (70.0%) | 0.557 |
| 2 | 36 (39.1%) | 6 (30.0%) | |
| ≥3 | 8 (8.7%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Country of origin: Spain, n (%) | 84 (91.3%) | 19 (95.0%) | 0.581 |
| Education level | |||
| Secondary studies | 2 (2.2%) | 3 (15.0%) | 0.063 |
| Technical studies | 9 (9.8%) | 1 (5.0%) | |
| University studies | 81 (88.0%) | 16 (80.0%) | |
| Currently working | 43 (46.7%) | 14 (70.0%) | 0.059 |
| Physical activity | |||
| Sedentary | 21 (22.8%) | 5 (25.0%) | 0.355 |
| Low active | 49 (53.3%) | 7 (35.0%) | |
| Active/very active | 22 (23.9%) | 8 (40.0%) | |
| Tobacco consumption | |||
| Previously | 18 (19.6%) | 4 (20.0%) | 0.96 |
| Currently | |||
| Passive smoking | 18 (19.6%) | 2 (10.0%) | 0.16 |
| Active smoking | 1 (1.1%) | 1 (5.0%) | |
| Alcohol consumption | |||
| Prior to pregnancy | 47 (51.1%) | 11 (55.0%) | 0.228 |
| During pregnancy | 1 (1.1%) | 1 (5.0%) | |
| Currently | 4 (4.3%) | 3 (15.0%) | |
| Season during the study | |||
| Spring | 24 (26.1%) | 1 (5.0%) | 0.103 |
| Summer | 13 (14.1%) | 6 (30.0%) | |
| Autumn | 33 (35.9%) | 8 (40.0%) | |
| Winter | 22 (23.9%) | 5 (25.0%) |
The quantitative sociodemographic variables are presented as means (standard deviations) when they followed a parametric distribution and as medians (25th, 75th percentiles) when they followed a nonparametric distribution. The ranges are displayed after the semicolons. The qualitative variables are expressed as the absolute and relative frequencies (%). Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index.