Breastfeeding in infancy is not associated with inflammatory status in healthy adolescents.
It has been suggested that breast-feeding (BF) may be associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. A low-grade inflammation is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, even in apparently healthy children. The objective of this study was to assess the potential modulating effect of BF on the inflammatory status of healthy adolescents. Information on BF (duration) was obtained from parental records in 484 of 1040 healthy European urban adolescents (56.4% females) that had a blood sample obtained as part of the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition and Adolescence study. Blood serum inflammatory markers were measured, including high sensitivity C-reactive protein, complement factors 3 and 4, ceruloplasmin, adhesion molecules (L-selectin and soluble endothelial selectin, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1), cytokines, TGFβ1, and white blood cells. After univariate analysis, a propensity score, including the potential confounding factors, was computed and used to assess the association between BF and selected inflammatory markers. BF was not significantly associated with any of the selected inflammatory markers after adjustment for gender and propensity score. In our study, BF was not associated with low-grade inflammatory status in healthy adolescents, suggesting that the potential cardiovascular benefits of BF are related to other mechanisms than modulation of inflammation or might become relevant at a later age. Groups at high risk for cardiovascular disease should be a target for further research concerning the effects of BF.
Inserm U995, IFR114, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lille 2, Lille 59037, France.
Caroline M P
CM
Vérier
Alain
A
Duhamel
Laurent
L
Béghin
Ligia-Esperanza
LE
Diaz
Julia
J
Warnberg
Ascensión
A
Marcos
Sonia
S
Gómez-Martínez
Yannis
Y
Manios
Stefaan
S
De Henauw
Michael
M
Sjöström
Luis A
LA
Moreno
Mathilde
M
Kersting
Christina
C
Breidenassel
Dènes
D
Molnar
Enrique G
EG
Artero
Marika
M
Ferrari
Kurt
K
Widhalm
Dominique
D
Turck
Frédéric
F
Gottrand
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D014504:Urban Health
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators