The Effects of Pigs' Feet Consumption on Lactation

Abstract

Pigs' feet are traditionally consumed by Korean women to increase milk production during lactation. In this study, we evaluated the perceived effectiveness and safety of consuming pigs' feet. Parous women were recruited to complete survey questionnaires in South Korea. Of the 516 respondents, 188 (36%) claimed they consumed pigs' feet. One-hundred twenty women (64%) who consumed pigs' feet reported experiencing an increase in breast milk production. Seventy-three (61%) women from this same group exclusively breastfed. In contrast, 16 (25%) of 65 respondents who did not embrace the same purported effect of pigs' feet indicated that they solely breastfed. Ninety-eight (82%) respondents who consumed pigs' feet and reported galactagoguic effects would recommend its use. Study findings reveal that the majority of women who consume pigs' feet believe in its milk-promoting effects. The results of this study suggest that further investigation of the galactagoguic effects of pigs' feet via conduction of an experimental study is warranted.

Keywords:

• breastfeeding
• galactagogues
• milk
• pigs' feet
• women

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We acknowledge Drs. Charisse Ching and Allen Ho for their assistance of data entry, and Dr. Jun-Bok Jang for sharing his research findings on the effect of Jeoje (pigs' feet) and Tongyu-tang without Cheonsangap (Manitis squama) on lactation in postpartum rats.