Babies fed within for at least six months have more diverse intestinal bacteria, which lowers blood pressure during childhood.
- Prolonged breastfeeding, at least six months, promotes the diversification of intestinal bacteria in babies.
- These intestinal bacteria are capable of transforming carbohydrates from breast milk into short -chain fatty acids, which can lower children’s blood pressure at the age of six.
- “A permeable intestine was linked to inflammation and increased blood pressure,” said the researchers.
“Experiences on germ -free mice indicate that the human intestinal microbiota influences blood pressure, but no study has examined prospectively if the infants’ intestinal microbiota affects their future blood pressure during childhood”, have indicated American and Danish researchers. This is why they decided to carry out work published in the journal Journal of the American Heart Association.
Prolonged breastfeeding is linked to the hypotensive effects of certain intestinal bacteria
As part of the study, the team examined the data of 526 babies participating in prospective research in Denmark. To establish a link between infant’s intestinal bacteria, which can be influenced by nutrition and are responsible for various health functions, and the child’s blood pressure, it has taken samples of feces during the first week, the first month and the first year of their lives. Three and six years later, they measured the blood pressure of children. Subsequently, scientists evaluated the influence of breastfeeding, which was measured in this work for durations of at least six months.
The results showed that infants whose intestinal bacteria were more diversified after a month had lower blood pressure years later. In baby breastfeeding for at least six months, the effect of reducing blood pressure linked to the presence of a greater diversity of bacteria in the intestine was even more marked. In detail, babies with a greater diversity of intestinal bacteria throughout the first month of their lives had a systolic blood pressure of approximately 2 mm hg six years later if they had been breastfed for at least six months.
Intestinal bacteria transform carbohydrates from breast milk into short chain fatty acids
According to the authors, this can be explained by the fact that certain intestinal bacteria have developed a specialized biological mechanism which allows them to convert carbohydrates from breast milk, which are also indigestible, in calories and substances used by the body. “Certain species of bifidobacterium, including B. Infantis, are stars when it comes to decomposing these carbohydrates and transforming them into short chain fatty acids which can influence blood pressure and promote cardiovascular health.”
In children who are not breastfeeding, bacteria that do not feed on carbon coasting hydrates can degrade carbon hydrates that line the intestines. This can lead to a state, called “permeable intestine”, in which bacteria and fat can enter the blood circulation. “A permeable intestine has been linked to inflammation and increased blood pressure in adults.”
Another observation: certain types of bacteria, including Helicobacter pylori which can be transmitted from mother to child and create persistent levels of low inflammation, were present in some children. The latter were linked to an increase in blood pressure for years later.
