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Published on: May 3, 2018
The effect of breastfeeding during infancy on arterial stiffness in young adults
Gulay Ozkececi1, Onder Akci2, Serkan Bektur2
1Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey - gulayozkececi@yahoo.com.
Insights
Exclusive breastfeeding in infancy significantly reduces arterial stiffness in young adults, lowering cardiovascular disease risk. Longer breastfeeding duration is associated with greater risk reduction, independent of other factors.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Public Health
Background:
- Breastfeeding offers numerous health advantages, yet its long-term cardiovascular impact remains incompletely understood.
- Investigating early life nutrition's influence on adult cardiovascular health is crucial for preventative strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of exclusive breastfeeding in infancy on arterial stiffness in young adults.
- To evaluate arterial stiffness using aortic pulse wave velocity and augmentation index in relation to breastfeeding history.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study involving 86 young adults (mean age ~27 years) from similar socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Group 1: 46 subjects exclusively breastfed for 4-6 months; Group 2: 40 subjects breastfed <3 months or never.
- Arterial stiffness parameters (aortic pulse wave velocity, brachial/aortic augmentation index) measured using an oscillometric arteriograph.
Main Results:
- Significantly lower pulse wave velocity observed in the exclusively breastfed group compared to the non-breastfed group (P<0.05).
- No significant differences in brachial or aortic augmentation index between groups.
- A significant inverse relationship found between breastfeeding duration and aortic pulse wave velocity.
Conclusions:
- Infant breastfeeding is linked to reduced cardiovascular disease risk in young adulthood, irrespective of other risk factors.
- Extended duration of breastfeeding appears to enhance cardiovascular protection.
Background:
Breastfeeding has many benefits for health, also later in life. However, its effects on the cardiovascular system are still unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of exclusive breastfeeding as infants on arterial stiffness in young adults having no cardiovascular risk factors, using aortic pulse wave velocity, and brachial and aortic augmentation index.
Methods:
Eighty-six subjects were included in the study from similar socioeconomic status. 46 subjects who had received exclusive breastfeeding for the first 4-6 months in infancy (26 women, mean age 26.7±4 years) (group 1) and 40 subjects who had received exclusive breastfeeding for less than 3 months or had never been breast-fed (22 women, mean age: 28±3.8 years) (group 2) were recruited. Parameters of arterial stiffness (aortic pulse wave velocity, brachial and aortic augmentation index) were investigated using an arteriograph (TensioMed, Budapest, Hungary), which works on an ossilometric basis.
Results:
A significant decrease in pulse wave velocity in the breast-fed group was detected compared to the non-breast-fed group (P<0.05) but no significant difference was detected for aortic and brachial augmentation index. In addition there was a significant relationship between breastfeeding duration and aortic pulse wave velocity.
Conclusions:
Breast milk intake in infancy reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in young adults, independent of other cardiovascular risk factors. It seems that there is a negative relationship between the duration of breastfeeding and the risk reduction.
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