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Height, infant-feeding practices and cardiovascular functioning among 3 or 4 year old children in three ethnic groups
T Baranowski1, G T Bryan, J A Harrison
1Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912.
Insights
Infant feeding practices showed no link to cardiovascular health in young children, challenging the Barker hypothesis. This study found no support for early nutrition influencing later blood pressure or heart rate responses.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD)
- Pediatric Cardiovascular Health
- Nutritional Epidemiology
Background:
- The Barker hypothesis posits that prenatal and infant growth factors influence adult cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality.
- Infant feeding is a key factor in early development with potential long-term health implications.
- Understanding early nutrition's impact on cardiovascular functioning is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test predictions of the Barker hypothesis regarding infant feeding and cardiovascular functioning in young children.
- To examine the relationship between infant feeding characteristics and cardiovascular indicators in 3-4 year olds.
- To assess if early nutrition influences resting blood pressure, heart rate, and activity response.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 3-4 year old children was assessed for cardiovascular indicators (blood pressure, heart rate).
- Infant feeding history (breastfeeding duration, food introduction timing) was recorded.
- Anthropometric and demographic data were controlled for in the analysis.
Main Results:
- Infant feeding practices were not significantly related to cardiovascular functioning in the predicted directions.
- No association was found between infant feeding characteristics and resting blood pressure or heart rate.
- The positive correlation between height and systolic blood pressure contradicted the Barker hypothesis's predictions.
Conclusions:
- Infant feeding practices, as measured, did not appear to influence cardiovascular functioning in this cohort of young children.
- The findings do not support the Barker hypothesis's predictions concerning early nutrition and cardiovascular health in this age group.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex relationship between early life factors and long-term cardiovascular outcomes.
Abstract:
Barker recently hypothesized that factors affecting prenatal and infant growth are related to adult blood pressure and CVD mortality. Predictions from Barker's hypothesis in regard to infant feeding were tested among a sample of 3 or 4 year old children. The relationship of infant-feeding characteristics (duration of breast-feeding, times of introduction of high fat, high carbohydrate, high potassium foods and table salt) to indicators of cardiovascular functioning (resting blood pressures and heart rates, and heart rate response to graded activity) while controlling for anthropometric (height, sum of seven skinfolds, BMI) and demographic (ethnicity, gender, social status) characteristics revealed that infant-feeding practices were not related to CV functioning in the predicted directions among this sample of 3 or 4 year old children. Furthermore, the positive relationship between height and systolic blood pressure was inconsistent with the Barker hypothesis.