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Breast feeding in infancy and arterial endothelial function later in life. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 63, pages 640–645 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

Breast feeding in infancy may be associated with reduced cardiovascular morbidity in adulthood. We examined the association between breast feeding in infancy and arterial function and structure in adulthood in a population-based cohort of Finnish adults.

Subjects/Methods:

Noninvasive ultrasound was used to measure brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and carotid artery compliance (CAC) in 1667 young adults participating in the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study with data on early nutrition.

Results:

Maximal FMD was higher in breast-fed men compared to formula-fed men (7.2±4.0 vs 5.9±3.4%, P=0.029) while no differences were seen between breast-fed and formula-fed women (8.9±4.5 vs 8.8±5.0%, P=0.84). In men, the multivariable correlates of FMD included the group variable for breast feeding (P=0.014), birth weight (P=0.043), waist circumference (P<0.001) and baseline brachial artery diameter (P<0.001). In women, the multivariable correlates of FMD were birth weight (P=0.02), waist circumference (P<0.001) and brachial artery baseline diameter (P<0.001). Breast feeding was not significantly associated with IMT or CAC in multivariable models.

Conclusions:

Adult men who have been breast fed have better brachial endothelial function compared to men who have been formula fed.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the Academy of Finland (grants 77841 and 210283), the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, the Turku University Foundation, Special Federal Grants for the Turku University Hospital, the Juho Vainio Foundation, the Finnish Foundation of Cardiovascular Research, the Lydia Maria Julin Foundation, Research Foundation of Instrumentarium, Research Foundation of Orion Corporation, the Maud Kuistila Foundation, the Emil Aaltonen Foundation, the Finnish Medical Foundation and the Finnish Cultural Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Physiology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    M J Järvisalo & O T Raitakari

  2. Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    M J Järvisalo, M Juonala & J Viikari

  3. Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    M J Järvisalo & M Juonala

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital and the Medical School, Tampere, Finland

    N Hutri-Kähönen

  5. Division of Nutrition, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    V Mikkilä & L Räsänen

  6. Department of Clinical Chemistry, Tampere University Hospital and the Medical School, Tampere, Finland

    T Lehtimäki

Authors
  1. M J Järvisalo
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  2. N Hutri-Kähönen
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  3. M Juonala
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Correspondence to O T Raitakari.

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Järvisalo, M., Hutri-Kähönen, N., Juonala, M. et al. Breast feeding in infancy and arterial endothelial function later in life. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. Eur J Clin Nutr 63, 640–645 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2008.17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2008.17

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