Does Breast-Feeding in Infancy Lower Blood Pressure in Childhood? The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC).

A total of 7276 singleton, term infants born in 1991 and 1992 were examined at 7.5 years. Complete data were available for 4763 children. The systolic and diastolic blood pressures of breast-fed children were 1.2 mm Hg lower (95% CI, 0.5 to 1.9) and 0.9 mm Hg lower (0.3 to 1.4), respectively, compared with children who were never breast-fed (models controlled for age, sex, room temperature, and field observer). Blood pressure differences were attenuated but remained statistically significant in fully adjusted models controlling for social, economic, maternal, and anthropometric variables (reduction in systolic blood pressure: 0.8 mm Hg [0.1 to 1.5]; reduction in diastolic blood pressure: 0.6 mm Hg [0.1 to 1.0]). Blood pressure differences were similar whether breast-feeding was partial or exclusive. In fully adjusted models, there was a 0.2-mm Hg reduction (0.0 to 0.3) in systolic pressure for each 3 months of breast-feeding. According to this study, breast-feeding is associated with a lowering of later blood pressure in children born at term.