Breastfeeding is associated with increased lung function at 18 years of age: a cohort study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Public Health Nutrition

Background:

• Breastfeeding is associated with improved lung function in children.
• The impact of breastfeeding duration on lung capacity (forced vital capacity or FVC) in later adolescence requires further investigation.
• Infant growth patterns may also influence long-term respiratory health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between breastfeeding duration, infant weight gain, and forced vital capacity (FVC) at ages 10 and 18 years.
• To differentiate between direct and indirect effects of breastfeeding on FVC across developmental stages.
• To understand the interplay between breastfeeding, infant growth, and adolescent lung health.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal birth cohort study with 808 breastfed children.
• Data collection on breastfeeding duration at 1 and 2 years.
• Spirometry performed at ages 10 and 18 years; statistical analyses included linear models, linear mixed models, and path analyses.

Main Results:

• Breastfeeding duration was positively associated with increased FVC at both ages 10 and 18 years.
• A direct effect of breastfeeding on FVC was observed at age 10, transitioning to an indirect effect via childhood FVC by age 18.
• Higher infant weight gain, inversely related to breastfeeding, led to taller adolescents with increased FVC.

Conclusions:

• Extended breastfeeding duration positively impacts lung health throughout childhood and adolescence.
• Breastfeeding's benefits for lung function are sustained, with effects becoming indirect in later adolescence.
• Infant growth trajectories, influenced by feeding practices, play a role in adolescent lung capacity.