title: The effect of breastfeeding on lung function at 12 and 18 years: a prospective cohort study.
abstract: The objective was to assess associations between duration of total and exclusive breastfeeding and lung function up to adolescence.A birth cohort (Melbourne Atopy Cohort Study) of 620 infants with a family history of allergic disease was recruited. Mothers were encouraged to breastfeed exclusively for 6 months. Lung function was assessed at 12 and 18 years of age. Associations between breastfeeding and lung function were investigated using multivariable linear regression and path analysis was used to assess the potential mediating factors.Duration of breastfeeding (total and exclusive) was not associated with most assessed lung function outcomes. However, there was a trend for increased pre-bronchodilator mid-expiratory flow (MEF) at both 12 (adjusted mean difference (95% CI) per week of breastfeeding of 10 (-1-20) mL·s(-1)) and 18 years (11 (-1-22) mL·s(-1)) (p-values of 0.07 and 0.08, respectively). There was a strong indirect effect of height on these observed associations.Duration of breastfeeding does not appear to greatly influence lung function outcomes in children with a family history of allergic diseases. Longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding may be associated with an increase in MEF, partly due to greater attained height of the child.
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Lung Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, the University of Melbourne, Carlton, Australia.
authors.forename: Nilakshi T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Waidyatillake
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, the University of Melbourne, Carlton, Australia.
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Katrina J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Lung Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, the University of Melbourne, Carlton, Australia Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Caroline J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lodge
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Lung Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, the University of Melbourne, Carlton, Australia Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia s.dharmage@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Shyamali C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Dharmage
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Abramson
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, the University of Melbourne, Carlton, Australia.
authors.forename: Alysha M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: De Livera
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Lung Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, the University of Melbourne, Carlton, Australia.
authors.forename: Melanie C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Matheson
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Bircan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Erbas
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Lung Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, the University of Melbourne, Carlton, Australia Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Adrian J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lowe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001315:Australia; D001827:Body Height; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002648:Child; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000503:physiopathology; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013997:Time Factors