Breastfeeding is associated with increased lung function at 18 years of age: a cohort study

Abstract

Breastfeeding has been linked with increased forced vital capacity (FVC) in children but not in older adolescents. Our aim was to investigate effects of breastfeeding duration and infant weight gain on FVC in both developmental periods. In a birth cohort, information on breastfeeding duration was collected at 1 and 2 years; spirometric tests were conducted at 10 and 18 years. To estimate the effect of breastfeeding duration on FVC at age 18, we used linear models; to analyse repeated FVC measurements at ages 10 and 18, we used linear mixed models. Links between breastfeeding, infant weight gain, and FVC at ages 10 and 18 were analyse d through path analyses. Among breastfed children (n=808), 49% were breastfed for ?4 months. At age 18, the augmenting effect of breastfeeding on FVC diminished with increased height. Linear mixed models identified that breastfeeding duration was associated with increased FVC. Path analysis suggested a direct effect of breastfeeding on FVC at age 10, but an indirect effect at age 18 via age 10 FVC. Although inversely related to breastfeeding, larger infant weight gain led to taller adolescents and in turn resulted in increased FVC. Longer breastfeeding duration contributes to lung health in childhood and adolescence.

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ORCID for R.J. Kurukulaaratchy: orcid.org/0000-0002-1588-2400

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