Breastfeeding duration is associated with higher adiposity at 6–8 months of age
Issued Date
2023-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
17408695
eISSN
17408709
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85139854052
Pubmed ID
36254499
Journal Title
Maternal and Child Nutrition
Volume
19
Issue
1
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Maternal and Child Nutrition Vol.19 No.1 (2023)
Suggested Citation
Ua-areechit T., Suteerojntrakool O., Pongcharoen T., Winichagoon P., Judprasong K., Murphy-Alford A.J., Lee W.T.K., Potip B., Sridonpai P., Tongchom W., Chomtho S. Breastfeeding duration is associated with higher adiposity at 6–8 months of age. Maternal and Child Nutrition Vol.19 No.1 (2023). doi:10.1111/mcn.13438 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/82195
Title
Breastfeeding duration is associated with higher adiposity at 6–8 months of age
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Breastfeeding (BF) has been identified as a protective factor against childhood obesity. However, evidence of the association between BF duration and adiposity remains inconclusive. Few studies have been conducted among Southeast Asian infants that have measured body composition during infancy using the gold standard stable isotope method. This study aimed to evaluate the association between BF duration and body composition during infancy. Healthy full-term Thai infants aged 6–8 months (n = 60) receiving exclusive or predominant BF for at least 3 months were recruited. Skinfold thickness (SFT) was measured by well-trained investigators. Body composition was assessed by the deuterium dilution technique. Infants with longer BF duration (>6 months; mean 7.5 ± 0.5 months, n = 29) had a higher subscapular SFT z-score than those with shorter BF duration (≤6 months; mean 5.3± 0.9 months, n = 31) by 0.48 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.01–0.94). After adjustment for age and sex, BF duration and age at introduction of complementary feeding (CF) were positively associated with fat mass and fat mass index at 6–8 months. One month increase in BF duration and CF age was associated with a 0.37 (95% CI: 0.05, 0.69) kg/m2 and 0.76 (95% CI: 0.18, 1.34) kg/m2 increase in the fat mass index, respectively. After adjusting for infant body mass index (BMI) during the earlier infancy period, the strength of the association was attenuated. This finding may reflect reverse causality where infants with lower BMI received formula or CF earlier. A longitudinal study with follow-up into childhood is warranted to confirm the effects of BF on adiposity in infancy and childhood.