TABLE 1.
Demographic characteristics, by feeding group (n = 535).
| CG (n = 155) |
TG1 (n = 158) |
TG2 (n = 153) |
HMG (n = 69) |
P-value a | |
| Age at baseline (days) | 14.5 ± 4.6 | 14.7 ± 4.5 | 14.3 ± 4.5 | 15.4 ± 3.8 | 0.316 |
| Sex | 0.426 | ||||
| Male | 80 (51.6%) | 78 (49.4%) | 77 (50.3%) | 42 (60.9%) | |
| Female | 75 (48.4%) | 80 (50.6%) | 76 (49.7%) | 27 (39.1%) | |
| Gestational age at birth (weeks) | 38.7 ± 1.3 | 38.7 ± 1.2 | 38.7 ± 1.1 | 39.1 ± 1.0 | 0.047 |
| Delivery mode | 0.501 | ||||
| Vaginal | 64 (41.3%) | 64 (40.5%) | 63 (41.2%) | 35 (50.7%) | |
| Cesarean | 91 (58.7%) | 94 (59.5%) | 90 (58.8%) | 34 (49.3%) | |
| Complementary foods by age 6 months (yes) | 138 (94.5%) | 144 (96.6%)b | 144 (96.0%) | 58 (87.9%) | 0.079 |
| Maternal education (years) | 13.7 ± 3.7 | 13.8 ± 3.9 | 13.6 ± 3.9 | 16.7 ± 2.9 | <0.001 |
| Paternal education (years) | 13.2 ± 3.5 | 12.9 ± 3.5 | 13.1 ± 3.9 | 15.6 ± 3.0 | <0.001 |
Data shown as mean ± SD or n (%). CG, control group; TG1, test group 1 (1.5 g HMOs/L); TG2, test group 2 (1.5 g HMOs/L); HMG, human milk-fed group; HMOs, human milk oligosaccharides.
aP-values for overall group comparison are derived from one-way ANOVA or Pearson’s chi-squared test. bFor 9 infants in TG1 it was not known whether complementary foods were consumed or not by age 6 months.