Banana Blossom Ingestion Does Not Increase Breast Milk Volume in Mothers of Preterm Newborns: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Abstract

Background: Breast milk is essential for the development of a newborn's neurological, gastrointestinal, and immune systems and helps reduce the risk of infections and infant mortality. Banana flowers, often combined with additives such as ginger, are commonly included in the country's local diets because they are believed to enhance postpartum lactation. We aimed to investigate the impact of banana blossom extract pills on breast milk volume (BMV) in mothers of preterm newborns. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted; it involved eligible preterm mothers, who were divided into two groups: a banana blossom group, which received banana blossom extract pills (36 mg/day), and a control group, which received placebo pills. All participants were given identical-looking tablets and were required to chew two tablets four times a day for 14 days. The primary outcome was the total BMV expressed (in milliliters) on the seventh day using an electric breast pump. Results: A total of 70 mothers of premature newborns were randomly allocated in equal numbers to either the banana blossom intervention group or the control group. There was no significant difference between the groups with respect to the median BMV on the seventh day postpartum (333 versus 350 mL, p = 0.73). A similar trend was observed on the 14th day postpartum (331 versus 510.0 mL, p = 0.6). Additionally, no significant differences were observed regarding maternal and neonatal adverse events. Conclusions: The administration of banana blossom extract pills (36 mg/day) to mothers with preterm infants did not increase the BMV on the seventh day postpartum.