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Breast feeding in infancy and arterial endothelial function later in life. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns
M J Järvisalo1, N Hutri-Kähönen, M Juonala
1Department of Clinical Physiology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Background/Objectives:
Breast feeding in infancy may be associated with reduced cardiovascular morbidity in adulthood. We examined the association between breast feeding in infancy and arterial function and structure in adulthood in a population-based cohort of Finnish adults.
Subjects/Methods:
Noninvasive ultrasound was used to measure brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and carotid artery compliance (CAC) in 1667 young adults participating in the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study with data on early nutrition.
Results:
Maximal FMD was higher in breast-fed men compared to formula-fed men (7.2+/-4.0 vs 5.9+/-3.4%, P=0.029) while no differences were seen between breast-fed and formula-fed women (8.9+/-4.5 vs 8.8+/-5.0%, P=0.84). In men, the multivariable correlates of FMD included the group variable for breast feeding (P=0.014), birth weight (P=0.043), waist circumference (P<0.001) and baseline brachial artery diameter (P<0.001). In women, the multivariable correlates of FMD were birth weight (P=0.02), waist circumference (P<0.001) and brachial artery baseline diameter (P<0.001). Breast feeding was not significantly associated with IMT or CAC in multivariable models.
Conclusions:
Adult men who have been breast fed have better brachial endothelial function compared to men who have been formula fed.
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