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Long-term effects of birth weight and breastfeeding duration on inflammation in early adulthood
Thomas W McDade1, Molly W Metzger, Laura Chyu
1Cells to Society (C2S): The Center on Social Disparities and Health, Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, , 2040 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208, USA, Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, , 1810 Hinman Avenue, Evanston, IL 60208, USA, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St Louis, , One Brookings Drive, St Louis, MO 63130, USA, School of Education, University of California, , Irvine, 3200 Education, Irvine, CA 92697, USA, Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, , 225 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, USA, Program on Human Development and Social Policy, Northwestern University, , 2120 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
Insights
Early life factors like birth weight and breastfeeding significantly impact adult inflammation levels, measured by C-reactive protein (CRP). Promoting healthy birth outcomes and breastfeeding may reduce long-term disease risk.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Developmental Biology
- Public Health
Background:
- Chronic inflammation, indicated by C-reactive protein (CRP), links early life to adult health.
- CRP elevation predicts increased cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk.
- Developmental factors influencing inflammation regulation are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate birth weight and breastfeeding duration as predictors of C-reactive protein (CRP) in young adulthood.
- To explore the relationship between early life environmental factors and adult inflammatory markers.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a large representative cohort study (n=6951).
- Statistical investigation of birth weight and infant breastfeeding duration as predictors of adult CRP levels.
- Sibling comparison models used to control for genetic and early family environment factors.
Main Results:
- Higher birth weight (≥2.8 kg) was associated with lower adult CRP.
- Breastfeeding significantly reduced adult CRP levels, with longer durations showing greater reductions (20.1% to 29.8%).
- Sibling analyses confirmed associations between higher birth weight (>2.5 kg) and breastfeeding (≥3 months) with lower CRP.
Conclusions:
- Birth weight and breastfeeding are significant early life determinants of adult inflammation.
- Promoting breastfeeding and improving birth outcomes can reduce chronic inflammation.
- Interventions targeting early life factors may lower adult cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk.
Abstract:
Chronic inflammation is a potentially important physiological mechanism linking early life environments and health in adulthood. Elevated concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP)--a key biomarker of inflammation--predict increased cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk in adulthood, but the developmental factors that shape the regulation of inflammation are not known. We investigated birth weight and breastfeeding duration in infancy as predictors of CRP in young adulthood in a large representative cohort study (n = 6951). Birth weight was significantly associated with CRP in young adulthood, with a negative association for birth weights 2.8 kg and higher. Compared with individuals not breastfed, CRP concentrations were 20.1%, 26.7%, 29.6% and 29.8% lower among individuals breastfed for less than three months, three to six months, 6-12 months and greater than 12 months, respectively. In sibling comparison models, higher birth weight was associated with lower CRP for birth weights above 2.5 kg, and breastfeeding greater than or equal to three months was significantly associated with lower CRP. Efforts to promote breastfeeding and improve birth outcomes may have clinically relevant effects on reducing chronic inflammation and lowering risk for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in adulthood.
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