Infant-feeding patterns are related to blood cholesterol concentration in prepubertal children aged 5-11 y: the Fleurbaix-Laventie Ville Santé study.
OBJECTIVE
Several studies, mainly in animals, but also in humans, have shown that diet in infancy is associated with differences in blood cholesterol concentrations later in life. The objective was to examine this relationship in children aged 5-11 y after taking into account their current diet and parental hypercholesterolemia.


METHODS
251 prepubertal boys and 223 prepubertal girls enrolled in the schools in two little towns in northern France.


METHODS
Cross-sectional evaluation including measurements of cholesterol concentrations on capillary blood and a single weekday food intake record. Infant feeding patterns were obtained by questionnaire given to the mothers.


RESULTS
50% of the children had been breast-fed for a median duration of less than 2 months. Cow's milk was introduced in the diet as whole milk for 33% of the children. After adjustment for age, height, and sibship, capillary cholesterol concentration was lower in boys who had been breast fed (geometric mean: 4.4, 95% confidence interval of the mean: 4.2-4.6 mmol/L) than in those fed with formula (4.7, 4.5-4.8 mmol/L, P<0.03). In girls, breastfeeding had no significant effect on blood cholesterol concentration, which was associated with the type of cow's milk given in infancy: whole milk: 4.9 mmol/L (4.7-5. 2); totally or partially skimmed milk: 4.5 mmol/L (4.2-4.6), P<0.008. The current saturated fat and cholesterol intakes and parental hypercyholesterolemia were associated with current blood cholesterol concentration in children, but did not modify its relationship with infant feeding patterns.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of the present study suggest that diet in infancy may have longstanding effect on lipid metabolism.


BACKGROUND
The study was supported by funds from Eridania Béghin-Say, Groupe Fournier, Lesieur and Nestlé France, Roche Diagnostic and of the MGEN (Mutuelle Générale de l'Education Nationale, contract INSERM-MGEN #9158) and a grant from the Association de Langue Française pour l'Etude du Diabète et du Métabolisme (ALFEDIAM). European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2000) 54, 114-119
Plancoulaine
S
S
Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unité 258, 16, avenue Paul Vaillant-Couturier, F-94807 Villejuif, France.
Charles
M A
MA
Lafay
L
L
Tauber
M
M
Thibult
N
N
Borys
J M
JM
Eschwège
E
E
D000818:Animals; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002196:Capillaries; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000235:genetics; D007225:Infant Food; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk; D011627:Puberty; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D002784:Cholesterol