According to the ICMR-NIN Recommended Dietary Allowances 2020, how much additional energy per day should a lactating Indian woman consume during the first six months of lactation compared with her pre-pregnancy requirement?

• A 300 kcal per day
• B 400 kcal per day
• C 600 kcal per day ✓
• D 800 kcal per day

Explanation

The ICMR-NIN 2020 guidelines recommend an additional 600 kcal per day during the first six months of lactation to cover the energy cost of producing about 750 ml of milk daily, and about 520 kcal per day during the next six months as milk output declines. The older figure of roughly 550 kcal was revised upward based on measured milk volumes. The 300 kcal increment relates to older pregnancy allowances, not lactation.

Reference: Nutrient Requirements for Indians, ICMR-NIN, 2020 ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.