Long-term effects of birth weight and breastfeeding duration on inflammation in early adulthood.
Chronic inflammation is a potentially important physiological mechanism linking early life environments and health in adulthood. Elevated concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP)--a key biomarker of inflammation--predict increased cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk in adulthood, but the developmental factors that shape the regulation of inflammation are not known. We investigated birth weight and breastfeeding duration in infancy as predictors of CRP in young adulthood in a large representative cohort study (n = 6951). Birth weight was significantly associated with CRP in young adulthood, with a negative association for birth weights 2.8 kg and higher. Compared with individuals not breastfed, CRP concentrations were 20.1%, 26.7%, 29.6% and 29.8% lower among individuals breastfed for less than three months, three to six months, 6-12 months and greater than 12 months, respectively. In sibling comparison models, higher birth weight was associated with lower CRP for birth weights above 2.5 kg, and breastfeeding greater than or equal to three months was significantly associated with lower CRP. Efforts to promote breastfeeding and improve birth outcomes may have clinically relevant effects on reducing chronic inflammation and lowering risk for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in adulthood.
Cells to Society (C2S): The Center on Social Disparities and Health, Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, , 2040 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208, USA, Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, , 1810 Hinman Avenue, Evanston, IL 60208, USA, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St Louis, , One Brookings Drive, St Louis, MO 63130, USA, School of Education, University of California, , Irvine, 3200 Education, Irvine, CA 92697, USA, Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, , 225 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, USA, Program on Human Development and Social Policy, Northwestern University, , 2120 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
Thomas W
TW
McDade
Molly W
MW
Metzger
Laura
L
Chyu
Greg J
GJ
Duncan
Craig
C
Garfield
Emma K
EK
Adam
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001724:Birth Weight; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D059788:Dried Blood Spot Testing; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
cardiovascular disease; developmental origins of health and disease; health disparities; inflammation; population health