Authors: S R Veena G V Krishnaveni A K Wills J C Hill S C Karat C H D Fall
Publish Date: 2011/07/20
Volume: 54, Issue: 10, Pages: 2533-
Abstract
Breastfeeding duration six categories from 3 to ≥18 months and age at introduction of complementary foods four categories from 4 to ≥6 months were recorded at 1 2 and 3 year followup of 568 children from a birth cohort in Mysore India At 5 and 95 years of age 518 children were assessed for glucose tolerance and IRHOMAAll the children were initially breastfed 90 were breastfed for ≥6 months and 567 started complementary foods at or before the age of 4 months Each category increase in breastfeeding duration was associated with lower fasting insulin concentration β = −005 pmol/l 95 CI −010 −0004 p = 003 and IRHOMA β = −005 95 CI −010 −0001 p = 0046 at 5 years adjusted for the child’s sex age current BMI socioeconomic status parent’s education rural/urban residence birthweight and maternal gestational diabetes status Longer duration of breastfeeding was associated with higher 120min glucose concentration at 5 years β = 008 mmol/l 95 CI 0001 015 p = 003 but lower 120min glucose concentration at 95 years β = −009 95 CI −016 −003 p = 0006 Age at starting complementary foods was unrelated to the children’s glucose tolerance and IRHOMAWithin this cohort in which prolonged breastfeeding was the norm there was evidence of a protective effect of longer duration of breastfeeding against glucose intolerance at 95 years At 5 years longer duration of breastfeeding was associated with lower IRHOMAChildren and adults who were breastfed rather than bottlefed and breastfed for a longer duration during infancy have lower rates of type 2 diabetes and lower insulin resistance IRHOMA 1 2 It has been suggested that differences between breastfed and bottlefed babies in the nutrient quality of the milk patterns of infant weight gain or in learned feeding behaviour influence later diabetes risk 1 Few studies have examined diabetes risk in relation to the age at starting complementary foods in infancy
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