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Infant feeding patterns are associated with cardiovascular structures and function in childhood
Layla L de Jonge1, Marianne A Langhout, H Rob Taal
1The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
The Journal of Nutrition
|October 4, 2013
Summary
Early infant nutrition impacts childhood cardiovascular development. Introducing solid foods later was linked to lower blood pressure, while never breastfeeding was associated with poorer cardiovascular markers in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric cardiology
- Nutritional science
- Developmental biology
Background:
- Infant nutrition is linked to adult cardiovascular disease and risk factors.
- Childhood cardiovascular adaptations may mediate these associations based on infant feeding patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of breastfeeding duration, exclusivity, and solid food introduction timing on childhood cardiovascular development.
- To analyze cardiovascular parameters in relation to infant feeding practices.
Main Methods:
- Population-based prospective cohort study from fetal life.
- Data collection via delivery reports and questionnaires on infant feeding.
- Measurement of blood pressure, pulse wave velocity (PWV), left atrial diameter (LAD), aortic root diameter (AOD), left ventricular (LV) mass, and fractional shortening (FS) at median age 6.0 years in 5003 children.
Main Results:
- Later introduction of solid foods correlated with lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure at age 6.
- Never breastfed children exhibited higher carotid-femoral PWV, smaller LAD, and less LV mass compared to ever breastfed children.
- Breastfeeding duration/exclusivity and feeding patterns were not associated with AOD or FS.
Conclusions:
- Infant feeding patterns, specifically age of solid food introduction and breastfeeding status, influence cardiovascular development in childhood.
- These findings suggest potential long-term implications for cardiovascular health, warranting further investigation.
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