TABLE 7 Food and Environmental Agents: Effects on Breastfeeding Agent Reported Sign or Symptom in Infant or Effect on Lactation Reference No. Aflatoxin None 354-356 Aspartame Caution if mother or infant has phenylketonuria 357 Bromide (photographic laboratory) Potential absorption and bromide transfer into milk; see Table 6 358 Cadmium None reported 359 Chlordane None reported 360 Chocolate (theobromine) Irritability or increased bowel activity if excess amounts (16 oz/d) consumed by mother 169, 361 DDT, benzene hexachlorides, dieldrin, aldrin, hepatachlorepoxide None 362-370 Fava beans Hemolysis in patient with G-6-PD deficiency 371 Fluorides None 372, 373 Hexachlorobenzene Skin rash, diarrhea, vomiting, dark urine, neurotoxicity, death 374, 375 Hexachlorophene None; possible contamination of milk from nipple washing 376 Lead Possible neurotoxicity 377-380 Mercury, methylmercury May affect neurodevelopment 381-383 Methylmethacrylate None 384 Monosodium glutamate None 385 Polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated biphenyls Lack of endurance, hypotonia, sullen, expressionless facies 386-390 Silicone Esophageal dysmotility 17-22 Tetrachloroethylene cleaning fluid (perchloroethylene) Obstructive jaundice, dark urine 391 Vegetarian diet Signs of B12 deficiency 392

Return to article