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Nutrition during the early life cycle

Birth weight and breastfeeding are differentially associated with physical fitness components

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 76, pages 871–878 (2022)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/objectives

The study purpose was to assess the impact of birth weight and breastfeeding duration on physical fitness components.

Subjects/methods

Study participants were 985 adolescents boys and 1246 girls (12.5–17.5 years) participating in the HELENA study. Standardised physical fitness procedures included: cardio-respiratory fitness, flexibility, upper body muscular strength, and lower body explosive strength. Birth weight and breastfeeding duration were assessed by parents’ questionnaire. Associations between neonatal data and physical fitness were investigated using linear mixed models.

Results

Significant associations between body muscular strength, and breastfeeding duration were observed in the unadjusted analyses for boys. When adjusting for potential confounding factors (z-score body mass index, fat-free mass, fat mass), only lower body muscular strength, by standing broad jump-a proxy measure of muscular explosivity- was positively associated with breastfeeding duration. Furthermore, significant associations were observed between upper body muscular strength (by hand grip),—a proxy measure of muscular power—in boys as well as in girls.

Conclusions

Birth weight and breastfeeding duration have different effects on muscular strength components. The present results suggest that birth weight positively influences the development of muscular power, while breastfeeding duration positively influences muscular explosivity.

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Acknowledgements

The content of this article reflect only the authors’ views and the European Commission is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained herein. We thank Muriel BEUVRY and Anne GAUTREAU (CIC-1403-CHU-Inserm de Lille, France) for help in typing this manuscript.

Funding

The HELENA Study took place with the financial support of the European Commission Sixth RTD Framework Programme (Contract FOOD-CT-20056007034). This study was also supported by grants from Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (AP 2008-03806).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1286 - INFINITE - Institute for Translational Research in Inflammation, and CIC 1403 – Clinical Investigation Center, F-59000, Lille, France

    Laurent Béghin, Jérémy Vanhelst & Frédéric Gottrand

  2. Univ. Lille, CHU Lille, ULR 2694 - METRICS: Évaluation des Technologies de Santé et des Pratiques Médicales et Départment de Biostatistiques, F-59000, Lille, France

    Elodie Drumez

  3. Research Department of Child Nutrition, Pediatric University Clinic, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany

    Mathilde Kersting

  4. Department of Pediatrics, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary

    Denes Molnar

  5. University of Crete School of Medicine, Heraklion, Crete, Greece

    Anthony Kafatos

  6. Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    Stefaan De Henauwn

  7. Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Vienna University, Vienna, Austria

    Kurt Wildhalm

  8. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece

    Eva Karaglani

  9. GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group. Escuela Universitaria de Ciencas de la Salud, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain

    Luis A. Moreno

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  1. Laurent Béghin
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Contributions

Laurent Béghin and Jérémy Vanhelst designed the data collection instruments, coordinated and supervised data collection, conducted the initial analyses and drafted the initial manuscript. Elodie Drumez conducted the initial analyses, statistical analysis and drafted the initial manuscript. Mathilde Kersting, Denes Molnar, Anthony Kafatos and Eva Karaglani designed data collection instruments, coordinated and supervised data collection and critically reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual content. Stefaan De Henauwn, Kurt Wildhalm, Luis A. Moreno and Frédéric Gottrand conceptualised and designed the study, supervised data collection, coordinated the study and critically reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual content. And all authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

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Correspondence to Laurent Béghin.

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Competing interests

Frédéric Gottrand has received consulting fees from Nestlé, and grant support from Lactalis. The remaining authors state no conflict of interest. The content of this article reflect only the authors’ views and the European Community is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

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Béghin, L., Vanhelst, J., Drumez, E. et al. Birth weight and breastfeeding are differentially associated with physical fitness components. Eur J Clin Nutr 76, 871–878 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-021-01038-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-021-01038-6

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