Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling
07:11

Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling

Published on: February 5, 2019

Late effects of breast-feeding and early weaning: seven-year prospective study in children

V Strbák1, M Skultétyová, M Hromadová

  • 1Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, CSFR.

Endocrine Regulations
|June 1, 1991
PubMed

Insights

Breastfeeding duration impacts child health. Shorter breastfeeding periods correlate with higher obesity and respiratory illness rates, while longer durations offer gastrointestinal protection.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Endocrinology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Breastfeeding is recognized for its health benefits, but its long-term effects on clinical and thyroid parameters require further investigation.
  • Understanding the impact of breastfeeding duration on child development is crucial for public health recommendations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the longitudinal effects of breastfeeding duration on clinical parameters (obesity, diseases) and thyroid function (hormones, TSH, cholesterol) from birth to seven years.
  • To identify potential correlations between age at weaning and specific health outcomes in early childhood.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective longitudinal study tracking children from birth to seven years.
  • Data collection included obesity rates, incidence of respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases, thyroid hormones, TSH, and serum cholesterol levels.
  • Analysis compared outcomes based on breastfeeding duration categories.

Main Results:

  • Children breast-fed for less than three months had significantly higher obesity rates compared to those breast-fed longer.
  • Short breastfeeding durations (less than two weeks) were associated with increased respiratory tract diseases.
  • Extended breastfeeding (over six months) showed a protective effect against gastrointestinal diseases.
  • Thyroid hormone and TSH levels exhibited biphasic changes, but were not profoundly affected by breastfeeding duration.
  • Total serum cholesterol increased with age at weaning in late preschool years, with the most favorable atherogenic index observed in children weaned between one and three months.

Conclusions:

  • The age at weaning is a significant factor influencing later childhood development, affecting obesity, disease susceptibility, and lipid profiles.
  • While breastfeeding duration impacts certain clinical outcomes, its effect on thyroid function parameters in early childhood appears limited.
  • Findings suggest that optimizing breastfeeding duration may play a role in preventing childhood obesity and improving cardiovascular risk factors.

More Related Videos

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect05:04

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect

Published on: September 22, 2023

Non-Nutritive Suck Parameters Measurements Using a Custom Pressure Transducer System06:19

Non-Nutritive Suck Parameters Measurements Using a Custom Pressure Transducer System

Published on: April 19, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Anatomy of the Intestines01:23

Anatomy of the Intestines

Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the small...
Longitudinal Research02:20

Longitudinal Research

Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...