Breastfeeding May Affect Babies' Future Blood Pressure

---

Lawlor DA, Riddoch CJ, Page AS, et al.: Infant feeding and components of the metabolic syndrome: findings from the European Youth Heart Study. Arch Dis Child 90:582–588, 2005.

What is the problem and what is known about it so far?

Some research shows that breastfeeding may help reduce the chances of babies getting cardiovascular disease (disease of the heart and blood vessels) when they become adults. More research is needed to better understand how -- and if -- babies benefit from being breastfed.

Why did the researchers do this particular study?

Researchers wanted to study the effect breastfeeding has on metabolic syndrome (a group of signs and symptoms including high blood pressure, poor blood glucose control, high levels of fats in the blood, and a large waist size). Researchers looked at the link between breastfeeding and not breastfeeding babies who later developed insulin resistance (a condition where the body doesn't use insulin well) and metabolic syndrome.

Who was studied?

The research included 2,192 children in Estonia and Denmark in the European Youth Heart Study (EYHS), a project to study heart and blood vessel disease in children 9 to 15 years old.

How was the study done?

Each child had a medical exam, blood drawn for laboratory tests, and measurements taken for their height and weight. Parents completed a questionnaire on whether children were breastfed or not, as well as other health questions.

What did the researchers find?

On average, the children who were breastfed had lower blood pressure than those who were not. The longer a child was breastfed, the greater the difference.

No difference was seen between breastfed children and those who weren't breastfed in any other metabolic syndrome symptoms.

What were the limitations of the study?

The breastfeeding information was based on how well parents were able to remember breastfeeding their children and for how long. Self-reported studies can be inaccurate.

In addition, the blood pressure of children may be affected by social and economic factors that were not considered in the study.

What are the implications of the study?

It has no effect on metabolic syndrome, but breastfeeding may help children to have lower blood pressure as they grow up. This could be just one healthful benefit of breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding has about as powerful an influence on blood pressure as exercise or a salt-restricted diet, and may play a role in reducing heart and blood vessel disease in adults.