Ph.D., University of California, Davis


Dr. Heinig’s research area is maternal and child nutrition, particularly during lactation. Current topics of investigation include a) nutritional factors related to infant growth and development, b) the relationship between maternal perception of milk supply and milk intake by their infants, c) benefits of breastfeeding for infants and their mothers, and d) risk factors for poor weight gain among breastfed infants.

Dr. Heinig is the Executive Director of the UC Davis Human Lactation Center.

Dewey, K. G., Heinig, M. J., Nommsen, L. A. and Lönnerdal, B. Low energy intakes and growth velocities of breast-fed infants: are there functional consequences. In: Activity, Energy Expenditure and Energy Requirements of Infants and Children. Schurch B and Scrimshaw NS (eds). IDECG, Switzerland, 1990.

Dewey, K. G., Heinig, M. J., Nommsen, L. A. and Lönnerdal, B. Adequacy of energy intake among breast-fed infants in the DARLING study: relationships to growth velocity, morbidity and activity levels. Journal of Pediatrics 1990;119: 538-547.

Nommsen, L. A., Lovelady, C. A., Heinig, M. J., Lönnerdal, B, and Dewey K. G. Determinants of energy, protein, lipid and lactose concentrations in human milk during the first 12 mo of lactation: the DARLING study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1991;53: 457-465.

Dewey, K. G., Heinig, M. J., Nommsen, L. A. and Lönnerdal, B. Maternal versus infant factors related to breast milk intake and residual milk volume: the DARLING study. Pediatrics 1991;87 (6) : 829-837.

Dewey, K. G., Heinig, M. J., Nommsen, L. A. and Lönnerdal, B. Zinc status in breastfed infants. (Letter) Lancet 1992;340: 1417.

Dewey, K. G., Heinig, M. J., Nommsen, L. A. and Lönnerdal, B. Growth of breast-fed infants. (Letter) Journal of Pediatrics 1992;121: 171-172.

Heinig M. J., Nommsen, L. A., Dewey, K. G. Lactation and Postpartum Weight Loss In: Mechanisms regulating lactation and infant nutrient utilization. Picciano, M.F. and Lönnerdal, B (eds). Wiley-Liss, New York, 1992.

Dewey, K. G., Peerson, J. M., Heinig, M. J., Nommsen, L. A., Lönnerdal, B., Lopez de Romana, G., Creed de Kanashiro, H., Black, R. E., and Brown, K. H. Growth patterns of breast-fed infants in affluent (United States) and poor (Peru) communities: implications for timing of complementary feeding. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1992;56:1012-1018.

Dewey, K. G., Heinig, M. J., Nommsen, L. A., Peerson, J. M., and Lönnerdal, B. Growth of breast-fed and formula-fed infants from 0 to 18 months: the DARLING study. Pediatrics 1992;89: 1035-1041.

Heinig, M. J., Nommsen, L. A., Peerson, J. M., Lönnerdal, B., Dewey, K. G. Intake and growth of breast-fed and formula-fed inifants in relation to the timing of introduction of complementary foods: the DARLING study. Acta Paediatrica, 1993;82: 999-1006.

Heinig, M. J., Nommsen, L. A., Peerson, J. M., Lönnerdal, B., Dewey, K. G. Energy and protein intakes of breast-fed and formula-fed infants during the first year of life and their association with growth velocity: the DARLING study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1993;58: 152-161.

Peerson, J. M., Heinig, M. J., Nommsen, L. A., Lönnerdal, B., Dewey, K. G. Use of growth models to describe patterns of length, weight, and head circumference among breast-fed and formula-fed infants: the DARLING study. Human Biology, 1993;65: 611-626.

Dewey, K. G., Heinig, M. J., Nommsen, L. A., and Lönnerdal, B. Maternal weight-loss during prolonged lactation. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1993;58: 162-166.

Dewey, K. G., Heinig, M. J., Nommsen, L. A., Peerson, J. M., and Lönnerdal, B. Breast-fed infants are leaner than formula-fed infants at 1 y of age: the DARLING study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1993;57: 140-145.

Heinig, M. J., Nommsen, L. A., Peerson, J. M., Dewey, K. G. Factors related to duration of postpartum amenorrhea among USA women with prolonged lactation. Journal of Biosocial Science,1994;26: 517-527.

Dewey, K. G., Heinig, M. J., Nommsen-Rivers, L. A. Differences in morbidity between breast-fed and formula-fed infants. Journal of Pediatrics, 1995;126: 696-702.

Heinig, MJ and Dewey, KG. Health advantages for breastfed infants: A critical review. Nutrition Research Reviews, in press.

Heinig, MJ, Nommsen-Rivers, LA and members of the California Department of Health Services Breastfeeding Promotion Committee. Breastfeeding: Investing in California's Future. California Department of Health Services Primary Care and Family Health Division, in press.