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Association of breastfeeding duration with cardiac structure and function in 4 years old
Zhi Wang1,2, Ling Yang1, Bowen Du1
1Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Yangpu District, No.1665, Kongjiang Road, Shanghai, 200092, China.
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|June 14, 2025
Summary
Longer breastfeeding duration is linked to larger left heart volumes in 4-year-olds. These effects were more significant in girls and low birthweight infants, highlighting the importance of breastfeeding for child cardiac development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Infant Nutrition
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Breast milk is crucial for infant development.
- Limited research exists on breastfeeding duration's impact on children's cardiac structure and function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between infant breastfeeding duration and cardiac structure/function in 4-year-old children.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed data from 891 mother-offspring pairs in the Shanghai Birth Cohort.
- Categorized breastfeeding duration (<6 months, 6-12 months, >12 months).
- Assessed cardiac structures using echocardiography following 2010 American Society of Echocardiography guidelines.
Main Results:
- Children breastfed for >6 months had larger left atrial and ventricular volumes compared to those breastfed <6 months.
- Increased left atrial diastolic volume (LAVd), left atrial systolic volume (LAVs), left ventricular diastolic volume (LVEDV), and left ventricular systolic volume (LVESV) were observed.
- Findings were more pronounced in girls and low birthweight children.
Conclusions:
- Extended breastfeeding (≥6 months) is associated with increased left heart volume in 4-year-olds.
- Gender and birthweight modify this association.
