Low birth weight and short life span breastfeedingincrease the risk for adults of inflammation and heart disease according to the results of this study published in the specialized journal Proceedings of The Royal Society.
High concentrations of C-reactive protein predict an increased risk of chronic inflammation, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in adulthood. But the developmental factors of this protein are not known. Nothwestern University researchers analyzed medical data from 6,951 young adults aged 24 to 32 retrieved from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health database. Scientists wanted to understand if levels of C-reactive protein, this key biomarker of inflammation, could be associated with birth weight and length of pregnancy. breast feeding.
The duration of breastfeeding has a real impact on health
The researchers found that low birth weight was linked to high levels of C-reactive protein in adulthood and that prolonged breastfeeding appears to alter these levels.
Compared to non-breastfed individuals, C-reactive protein concentrations were 20.1%, 26.7%, 29.6%, and 29.8% lower in individuals breastfed for less than three months, three to six months, 6-12 months and more than 12 months.
“The longer the infant is breastfed, the less C-reactive protein he develops in adulthood. The more it is protected from chronic inflammation and cardiovascular disease,” explains Dr. Thomas McDade, professor at Nothwestern University and lead author of the study.
“The results of this study highlight the importance of breastfeeding for all the life. This is one more reason to promote and support breastfeeding and inform women that its duration has a real impact on health. A simple awareness that could reduce these disparities in the risk of inflammation”.
The WHO recalls that “breast milk is the ideal food for newborns. It provides all the nutrients necessary for their development and contains antibodies that protect them from common illnesses such as diarrhea and pneumonia, the two leading causes of child mortality in the world” and insists on the fact that “the exclusive breastfeeding must be extended beyond 3-4 months, an age when many mothers often think about food diversification”.
