Early weaning and alcohol disorders in offspring: biological effect, mediating factors or residual confounding?
OBJECTIVE
This study explores associations between early weaning and alcohol use disorders in youth and mechanisms by which these associations may operate.


METHODS
We used data from the Mater University Study of Pregnancy and its outcomes, an Australian birth cohort study based in Brisbane.


METHODS
This study is based on a subsample of 2370 participants for whom complete data were available at age 21 years. Length and method of breastfeeding were assessed at 6 months.


METHODS
Alcohol use disorders were assessed at age 21 using the life-time version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview-computerized version (CIDI-Auto). We adjusted for maternal age, marital status, education, alcohol, tobacco use, anxiety, depression and maternal attitudes towards the baby. Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) and Intellect Quotient (IQ) were measured with the Child Behaviour Checklist (5 years) and the Ravens SM (14 years), respectively.


RESULTS
Those who had been weaned within 2 weeks of being born and breastfed at regular intervals were at increased risk of meeting criteria for alcohol use disorders at age 21 [odds ratio (OR) 1.71, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.07, 2.72].


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms a small but robust association between early weaning and increased risk of alcohol use disorders.
Alati
Rosa
R
School of Population Health, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia. r.alati@sph.uq.edu.au
Van Dooren
Kate
K
Najman
Jake M
JM
Williams
Gail M
GM
Clavarino
Alexandra
A
D000293:Adolescent; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D014886:Weaning; D055815:Young Adult