Journal
PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION
Volume 13, Issue 6, Pages 771-778Publisher
CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1017/S1368980009991704
Keywords
Breast-feeding; Cardiovascular risk factors; Anthropometry; Adolescence; Adulthood
Funding
- British Heart Foundation
- Wellcome Trust
- Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke
- Department of Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland
- Economic and Social Research Council [ES/G007438/1] Funding Source: researchfish
- ESRC [ES/G007438/1] Funding Source: UKRI
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Objective: To examine the association between breast-feeding and blood pressure, anthropometry and plasma lipid profile in both adolescence and young adulthood. Design: Longitudinal study of biological and behavioural risk factors for CVD. Setting: The Young Hearts Project, Northern Ireland. Subjects: Schoolchildren aged 12 years and 15 years who participated in a cross-sectional study of lifestyle and health, and who were followed up as young adults aged 20-25 years. Results: There was no significant difference in height, weight, BMI, skinfold thickness measurements, blood pressure or plasma lipid profile in adolescents who had been breast-fed compared with those who had not been breast-fed. However, by the time these adolescents had reached adulthood, those who had been breast-fed were significantly taller than those who had not been breast-fed (standing height, P=0.013; leg length, P=0.035). Specifically, the breast-fed group was on average taller by 1.7 cm (95% CI 0.4, 3.0 cm) and had longer legs by 1.0 cm (95% CI 0.1, 1.9 cm). There was no significant difference in other anthropometric measures, blood pressure or plasma lipid profile in adults who had been breast-fed compared with those who had not been breast-fed. Conclusions: Compared with those who had not been breast-fed, individuals who had been breast-fed were taller in adulthood. Given the known association of increased adult height with improved life expectancy, the results from the present study support a beneficial effect of breast-feeding.
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