Published Online
on March 1, 2004

A more recent version of this article appeared on March 16, 2004

This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 109/10/1259    most recent 01.CIR.0000118468.76447.CEv1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Martin, R. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Martin, R. M. Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information Breast Feeding High Blood Pressure Related Collections Risk Factors Other etiology Brain Circulation and Metabolism Chronic ischemic heart disease

Submitted on August 5, 2003
Revised on November 11, 2003
Accepted on December 5, 2003

Does Breast-Feeding in Infancy Lower Blood Pressure in Childhood? The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)

Richard M. Martin MSc, MFPH^*, Andrew R. Ness PhD, MFPH, David Gunnell PhD, FFPH, Pauline Emmett PhD, George Davey Smith MD, DSc, FFPH, and for the ALSPAC Study Team

From the Department of Social Medicine (R.M.M., D.G., G.D.S.) and the Unit of Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, Division of Child Health, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK (A.R.N., P.E.).

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: richard.martin{at}bristol.ac.uk.

Background--Breast-feeding in infancy has been associated with decreased coronary heart disease mortality, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We investigated the association of breast-feeding with blood pressure in a contemporary cohort.

Methods and Results--In a prospective cohort study (ALSPAC, United Kingdom), a total of 7276 singleton, term infants born in 1991 and 1992 were examined at 7.5 years. Complete data were available for 4763 children. The systolic and diastolic blood pressures of breast-fed children were 1.2 mm Hg lower (95% CI, 0.5 to 1.9) and 0.9 mm Hg lower (0.3 to 1.4), respectively, compared with children who were never breast-fed (models controlled for age, sex, room temperature, and field observer). Blood pressure differences were attenuated but remained statistically significant in fully adjusted models controlling for social, economic, maternal, and anthropometric variables (reduction in systolic blood pressure: 0.8 mm Hg [0.1 to 1.5]; reduction in diastolic blood pressure: 0.6 mm Hg [0.1 to 1.0]). Blood pressure differences were similar whether breast-feeding was partial or exclusive. We examined the effect of breast-feeding duration. In fully adjusted models, there was a 0.2-mm Hg reduction (0.0 to 0.3) in systolic pressure for each 3 months of breast-feeding.

Conclusions--Breast-feeding is associated with a lowering of later blood pressure in children born at term. If the association is causal, the wider promotion of breast-feeding is a potential component of the public health strategy to reduce population levels of blood pressure.

Key words: pediatrics • breast feeding • blood pressure • nutrition

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. Khan, F. C Green, J S. Forsyth, S. A Greene, D. J Newton, and J. J. Belch The beneficial effects of breastfeeding on microvascular function in 11- to 14-year-old children Vascular Medicine, May 1, 2009; 14(2): 137 - 142. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. D. Tobin, N. J. Timpson, L. V. Wain, S. Ring, L. R. Jones, P. M. Emmett, T. M. Palmer, A. R. Ness, N. J. Samani, G. D. Smith, et al. Common Variation in the WNK1 Gene and Blood Pressure in Childhood: The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children Hypertension, November 1, 2008; 52(5): 974 - 979. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. C. Geerts, D. E. Grobbee, C. K. van der Ent, B. M. de Jong, M. M. van der Zalm, N. van Putte-Katier, J. L.L. Kimpen, and C. S.P.M. Uiterwaal Tobacco Smoke Exposure of Pregnant Mothers and Blood Pressure in Their Newborns: Results from the Wheezing Illnesses Study Leidsche Rijn Birth Cohort Hypertension, September 1, 2007; 50(3): 572 - 578. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M Toschke, R. M Martin, R. von Kries, J. Wells, G. Davey Smith, and A. R Ness Infant feeding method and obesity: body mass index and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurements at 9-10 y of age from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, June 1, 2007; 85(6): 1578 - 1585. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M.-J. A. Brion, S. D. Leary, G. D. Smith, and A. R. Ness Similar Associations of Parental Prenatal Smoking Suggest Child Blood Pressure Is Not Influenced by Intrauterine Effects Hypertension, June 1, 2007; 49(6): 1422 - 1428. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. R. Rudnicka, C. G. Owen, and D. P. Strachan The Effect of Breastfeeding on Cardiorespiratory Risk Factors in Adult Life Pediatrics, May 1, 2007; 119(5): e1107 - e1115. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. G Victora, B. L Horta, P. Post, R. C Lima, J. W De Leon Elizalde, B. M. C. Gerson, and F. C Barros Breast feeding and blood lipid concentrations in male Brazilian adolescents. J Epidemiol Community Health, July 1, 2006; 60(7): 621 - 625. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. K. Ong, P. M. Emmett, S. Noble, A. Ness, D. B. Dunger, and and the ALSPAC Study Team Dietary Energy Intake at the Age of 4 Months Predicts Postnatal Weight Gain and Childhood Body Mass Index Pediatrics, March 1, 2006; 117(3): e503 - e508. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Leary, A. Ness, P. Emmett, G. Davey Smith, and ALSPAC Study Team Maternal diet in pregnancy and offspring height, sitting height, and leg length J Epidemiol Community Health, June 1, 2005; 59(6): 467 - 472. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D A Lawlor, C J Riddoch, A S Page, L B Andersen, N Wedderkopp, M Harro, D Stansbie, and G Davey Smith Infant feeding and components of the metabolic syndrome: findings from the European Youth Heart Study Arch. Dis. Child., June 1, 2005; 90(6): 582 - 588. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. M. Martin, D. Gunnell, and G. Davey Smith Breastfeeding in Infancy and Blood Pressure in Later Life: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Am. J. Epidemiol., January 1, 2005; 161(1): 15 - 26. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				National High Blood Pressure Education Program Wor The Fourth Report on the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents Pediatrics, August 1, 2004; 114(2/S2): 555 - 576. [Full Text] [PDF]

				Journal Watch Arch. Dis. Child., July 1, 2004; 89(7): 689 - 690. [Full Text] [PDF]

				Minerva BMJ, June 12, 2004; 328(7453): E308 - E308. [Full Text] [PDF]

				Yet Another Reason Why Breast Is Best Journal Watch Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, April 12, 2004; 2004(412): 2 - 2. [Full Text]

				Minerva BMJ, March 27, 2004; 328(7442): 776 - 776. [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. SoRelle Cardiovascular News Circulation, March 16, 2004; 109(10): e9017 - e9027. [Full Text]