Associations of breast-feeding patterns and introduction of solid foods with childhood bone mass: The Generation R Study. Issue 6 (9th February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: van den Hooven, Edith H.; Gharsalli, Mounira; Heppe, Denise H. M.; Raat, Hein; Hofman, Albert; Franco, Oscar H.; Rivadeneira, Fernando; Jaddoe, Vincent W. V.
• Is Part Of: British journal of nutrition. Volume 115:Issue 6(2016)
• Page Start: 1024
• Page End: 1032
• Publication Date: 2016-02-09
• Subjects: Breast-feeding, -- Introduction of solids, -- Bone mineral density, -- Childhood, -- Cohorts; Nutrition -- Periodicals; 572.4
• DOI: 10.1017/S0007114515005462
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1145

Abstract

Abstract: Breast-feeding has been associated with later bone health, but results from previous studies are inconsistent. We examined the associations of breast-feeding patterns and timing of introduction of solids with bone mass at the age of 6 years in a prospective cohort study among 4919 children. We collected information about duration and exclusiveness of breast-feeding and timing of introduction of any solids with postnatal questionnaires. A total body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan was performed at 6 years of age, and bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), area-adjusted BMC (aBMC) and bone area (BA) were analysed. Compared with children who were ever breast-fed, those never breast-fed had lower BMD (−4·62 mg/cm 2 ; 95 % CI −8·28, −0·97), BMC (−8·08 g; 95 % CI −12·45, −3·71) and BA (−7·03 cm 2 ; 95 % CI −12·55, −1·52) at 6 years of age. Among all breast-fed children, those who were breast-fed non-exclusively in the first 4 months had higher BMD (2·91 mg/cm 2 ; 95 % CI 0·41, 5·41) and aBMC (3·97 g; 95 % CI 1·30, 6·64) and lower BA (−4·45 cm 2 ; 95 % CI −8·28, −0·61) compared with children breast-fed exclusively for at least 4 months. Compared with introduction of solids between 4 and 5 months, introduction <4 months was associated with higher BMD and aBMC, whereas introduction between 5 and 6 months was associated with lower aBMC and higher BA. Additional adjustment for infant vitamin D supplementation did not change the results. In conclusion, results from the present study suggest that ever breast-feeding compared with never breast-feeding is associated with higher bone mass in 6-year-old children, but exclusive breast-feeding for 4 months or longer was not positively associated with bone outcomes.