Effect of consuming lactogenic biscuits formulated with banana (Musa x paradisiaca) flower flour on expressed breast milk (EBM) among lactating working women

Abstract

The most common reasons given for breastfeeding discontinuation among working women is insufficient or low milk supply which related to physiological and psychological factors. In this case, natural galactagogue is suggested as an alternative for lactating women to augment expressed breast milk supply, instead of using drugs as a milk booster. This study investigated the banana flower of Musa x paradisiaca for its galactogenic property on lactating working women. Formulations containing banana flower flour (BFF) and wheat flour with ratio of 50:50 were consumed by randomised lactating working women. A total of 58 mother-infant pairs were assigned to two groups which were placebo group (n=29) who consumed plain biscuits (without addition of BFF) and experimental group (n=29) who consumed prototype biscuits. Expressed breast milk (EBM), anthropometric indices of mothers and infants were recorded before and after the consumption of the biscuits. The result showed that EBM volume after consuming lactogenic biscuits among experimental group was significantly higher compared to placebo groups. The index of mother’s BMI change after the intervention was not statistically significantly different between the two groups (p>0.05). However, the BMI for age index after the intervention was significantly different among the infants (p<0.05), which means that lactogenic biscuit also contributes to the infants' growth status. The usage of banana flower as a galactagogue was useful to help increasing maternal milk production among lactating working women.

Galactagogue effect of banana (Musa x paradisiaca) blossom beverage on breast milk production among mothers undergoing cesarean section.

“…Banana (Musa x paradisiaca) blossom beverage has promoted breast milk supply and has been proven for its lactogenic properties on breast milk production among mothers undergoing c-section in early postpartum. This has been approved for the effectiveness of banana blossom on lactating mothers in Indonesia (Wahyuningsih et al, 2017) and has been further reinforced in lactating working women in Malaysia (Nordin et al 2020). It also was supported by a Thai survey that found that consumption of some traditional galactagogue including banana blossoms had a strong correlation with human milk volume (Buntuchai et al, 2017).…”

“…Moreover, there was a significant effect of banana blossom (Musa balbisiana Colla) extract on breast milk production and prolactin level in Indonesian mothers from the 5 th day to 12 th day of postpartum (Wahyuningsih et al, 2017). Furthermore, the biscuits formulated with banana (Musa x paradisiaca) significantly increased breast milk production among Malaysian working mothers of term and healthy infants aged 2 to 6 months (Nordin et al, 2020). However, there is limited evidence that its milk booster may improve milk production in early postpartum among mothers undergoing cesarean section.…”

“…Banana is a popular and cheapest plant throughout the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. In Asian cultures (Wahyuningsih et al, 2017;Nordin et al, 2020), the banana blossom is one of the most popular and convenient plant galactagogues to promote lactation among Thai mothers (Buntuchai et al, 2017;Luecha, & Umehara, 2013;Author, 2018). In a previous study, banana (M. x paradisiaca) blossom was extracted using various solvents, and these crude extracts contain alkaloids, saponins, glycosides, tannins, flavonoids, and steroids.…”

Clinical Study on Plant Galactagogue Worldwide in Promoting Women’s Lactation: a Scoping Review

“…Several studies on galactagogue have also been conducted in South East Asia. A research group in Malaysia reported that the lactogenic biscuits made of banana flower extract of Musa x paradisiaca could increase milk supply in lactating mothers [29]. This is particularly interesting as it was the first clinical study conducted to measure the efficiency of banana flower as a galactagogue, which involved human patients.…”

“…The findings suggested that the galactagogic activity may be reproducible in human, which requires further research. Out of the nine preclinical studies reported, only four plants (Musa x paradisiaca, Silybum marianum, Pimpinella anisum, Trigonella foenum-graecum) have been tested in human clinical study [20,26,28,29].…”