Effects of couscous supplementation on breast milk production and infant weight gain: a crossover clinical trial

To assess whether dietary supplementation with couscous, a rich source of corn starch, influences breast milk production and weight gain in exclusively breastfed infants. An experimental clinical trial with crossover design was conducted involving 30 breastfeeding mothers. The participants were divided into two groups: One group consumed 70 g of couscous daily for 20 days, followed by a 20-day period without supplementation, while the other group followed the reverse order. Infant weight gain was measured on days 1, 20, and 40, and the increase in milk production was assessed using a Likert scale. Infants whose mothers consumed couscous showed a significantly greater weight gain (33.7 g/day) compared to the group without supplementation (24.6 g/day), with P-value = .007. Additionally, 60% of mothers reported a marked increase in milk production while consuming couscous. Couscous supplementation proved to be a viable strategy for enhancing both milk production and infant weight gain.