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Maternal Nutrition, Infants and Children

Infant diet and subcutaneous fat mass in early childhood: The Generation R Study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 66, pages 253–260 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

Breastfeeding has a protective effect on childhood obesity, but the influences on body composition in early childhood are not known. The objective of this study is to assess whether the duration and exclusiveness of breastfeeding, and the timing of introduction of solid foods are associated with the subcutaneous fat mass in early childhood.

Subjects/Methods:

This study was embedded in a population-based prospective cohort study among 779 children. Peripheral (biceps, triceps) and central (suprailiacal and subscapular) subcutaneous fat mass was measured as skinfold thickness at the ages of 1.5, 6 and 24 months.

Results:

Breastfeeding duration was not associated with subcutaneous fat mass at the age of 1.5 months. Shorter breastfeeding was associated with higher peripheral and total subcutaneous fat mass at the age of 6 months (P-value for trend <0.05), but not at the age of 24 months. As compared to children who were exclusively breast fed for 4 months, those who were non-exclusively breast fed had a higher central fat mass at the age of 24 months (P-value for trend <0.01). Timing of introduction of solid foods was not associated with subcutaneous fat mass.

Conclusion:

Our results suggest that a shorter duration and non-exclusive breastfeeding affect early body composition during the first 2 years of life. Follow-up studies at older ages are needed to explore the long-term consequences.

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Acknowledgements

The Generation R Study is conducted by the Erasmus Medical Center in close collaboration with the School of Law and Faculty of Social Sciences of the Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Municipal Health Service Rotterdam area, Rotterdam, the Rotterdam Homecare Foundation, Rotterdam and the Stichting Trombosedienst and Artsenlaboratorium Rijnmond (STAR), Rotterdam. We gratefully acknowledge the contribution of participating mothers, general practitioners, hospitals, midwives and pharmacies in Rotterdam. The first phase of the Generation R Study is made possible by financial support from the Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Erasmus University Rotterdam and the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development. The study sponsors had no role in study design, data analysis, interpretation of data or writing this report. Vincent Jaddoe received an additional grant from the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw 90700303, 916.10159). B Durmuş was supported by an unrestricted grant from the Danone Research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    B Durmuş, L Ay, L Duijts & V W V Jaddoe

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    B Durmuş, L Ay, L Duijts, H A Moll, A C S Hokken-Koelega & V W V Jaddoe

  3. Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    B Durmuş, L Ay, L Duijts, A Hofman & V W V Jaddoe

  4. Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    H Raat

  5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    E A P Steegers

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  1. B Durmuş
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  2. L Ay
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Correspondence to V W V Jaddoe.

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Durmuş, B., Ay, L., Duijts, L. et al. Infant diet and subcutaneous fat mass in early childhood: The Generation R Study. Eur J Clin Nutr 66, 253–260 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2011.174

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