Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026
Milk Collection in the Rat Using Capillary Tubes and Estimation of Milk Fat Content by Creamatocrit
Published on: December 16, 2015
Breast feeding is related to C reactive protein concentration in adult women
M J A Williams1, S M Williams, R Poulton
1Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Otago, 201 Great King Street, Dunedin, New Zealand. michael.williams@otago.ac.nz
Insights
Longer infant breast feeding is linked to lower C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in women, suggesting early nutrition impacts long-term cardiovascular health. This study explored the relationship between infant feeding practices and adult inflammation markers.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Inflammation Markers
- Nutritional Epidemiology
Background:
- Low-grade inflammation, indicated by C-reactive protein (CRP), is associated with cardiovascular mortality.
- The influence of early life factors, such as infant feeding, on long-term health outcomes requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between the duration of infant breast feeding and adult C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.
- To determine if this association is independent of serum cholesterol concentrations.
Main Methods:
- A community birth cohort of 822 men and women in New Zealand was studied.
- Data collected included serum CRP, total cholesterol, anthropometrics, blood pressure, infant breast feeding duration, and other relevant factors.
- Participants were assessed at 26 years of age.
Main Results:
- A significant inverse linear relationship was observed between breast feeding duration and adult CRP levels in women (p<0.001).
- Women breast fed for six months or longer had significantly lower CRP levels compared to those not breast fed.
- A similar significant association was found between longer breast feeding duration and lower total cholesterol levels in women (p=0.01).
Conclusions:
- Increased duration of infant breast feeding is associated with lower adult CRP levels in women.
- These findings suggest that early postnatal nutrition, specifically breast feeding, may play a role in modulating long-term cardiovascular risk in women.
Objective:
To assess the influence of infant breast feeding on C reactive protein (CRP), a marker of low grade inflammation associated with cardiovascular mortality independent of serum cholesterol concentrations.
Design:
Serum CRP, total cholesterol, anthropometric, and blood pressure measurements were performed along with assessment of infant breast feeding duration, birth weight, smoking status, adult socioeconomic status, number of health problems, and hormonal contraceptive use.
Setting:
A New Zealand predominantly European descent community birth cohort.
Participants:
822 men and women aged 26 years.
Main Results:
There was a significant linear relation (p<0.001) between duration of breast feeding and adult CRP level in women. The geometric means (IQR) for CRP were 2.22 (1, 4) mg/l for women breast fed for six months or more and 3.95 (2, 8) mg/l for women not breast fed (ratio, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.69 (0.55 to 0.87). The linear association between cholesterol and breast feeding was also significant (p = 0.01), the geometric mean (IQR) total cholesterol levels being 4.62 (4.10, 5.10) for those breast fed for six months or more and 5.04 (4.5, 5.80) for those not breast fed (ratio, 95% CI: 0.92 (0.87, 0.98). There was no relation between CRP or total cholesterol and duration of breast feeding in men.
Conclusions:
The findings of lower CRP with an increased duration of breast feeding in women suggest early postnatal nutrition may influence long term cardiovascular risk.
