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Epidemiology and population health

Breastfeeding and cardiometabolic markers at age 12: a population-based birth cohort study

International Journal of Obesity volume 43, pages 1568–1577 (2019)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background

There is growing evidence for a protective effect of breastfeeding against overweight and diabetes. It is less clear though, whether breastfed infants also have a more favorable cardiometabolic profile in childhood.

Objective

We investigated whether children who were breastfed in infancy had more favorable cardiometabolic markers at 12 years of age than children who were never breastfed and received formula milk instead, and whether associations depended on the duration of breastfeeding.

Methods

In 1509 participants of the population-based PIAMA birth cohort study, cardiometabolic markers were measured at 12 years of age. Duration of breastfeeding in weeks was assessed through parental questionnaires at 3 months and 1 year of age. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to investigate associations of breastfeeding (any vs. never breastfeeding and duration of breastfeeding in categories <3 months, 3 to <6 months, and ≥6 months breastfeeding vs. never breastfeeding) with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP, in Z-scores adjusted for age, sex, and height), total-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC/HDLC), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c, in mmol/mol), body mass index (BMI, in Z-scores adjusted for age and sex) and waist circumference (WC, in cm). Multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate the association of breastfeeding with odds of being overweight.

Results

1288 of 1509 children (85.3%) received any breastmilk in infancy. Breastfed children had a lower SBP Z-score (−0.21 SD (≈ −2.29 mmHg), 95% CI −0.37, −0.06), a lower DBP Z-score (−0.10 SD (≈ −1.19 mmHg), 95% CI −0.20, −0.00), a smaller WC (−1.12 cm, 95% CI −2.20; −0.04), and lower odds of being overweight (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.38, 0.97) than never breastfed children. These associations were not different between children with shorter and longer duration of breastfeeding. No statistically significant differences in TC/HDLC, HbA1c, and BMI were observed between breastfed and never breastfed children.

Conclusions

We observed that breastfeeding was associated with a lower blood pressure, a smaller waist circumference and a lower risk of overweight in 12-year old children. These associations were independent of the duration of breastfeeding. No associations were observed between breastfeeding and other cardiometabolic markers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    L. P. M. Pluymen, H. A. Smit & L. van Rossem

  2. Center for Nutrition, Prevention, and Health Services, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands

    A. H. Wijga

  3. Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Division of Environmental Epidemiology & Veterinary Public Health, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    U. Gehring

  4. University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pediatric Pulmonology and Pediatric Allergology, Beatrix Children’s Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands

    G. H. Koppelman

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  1. L. P. M. Pluymen
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  3. U. Gehring
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Correspondence to L. P. M. Pluymen.

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Pluymen, L.P.M., Wijga, A.H., Gehring, U. et al. Breastfeeding and cardiometabolic markers at age 12: a population-based birth cohort study. Int J Obes 43, 1568–1577 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-018-0317-5

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