Infant-Feeding Patterns and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Young Adulthood: Data From Five Cohorts in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding from birth to 6 months, the introduction of nutritious complementary foods at 6 months and continued breastfeeding for 52 years.1 Breastfeeding reduces morbidity and mortality from infection during infancy, and the timely introduction of nutritious complementary foods prevents stunting.2,3 Optimal infant feeding may also have longterm benefits. Adults and children who were breastfed have lower blood pressure (BP) and lower rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes than those who were bottle-fed,4–8 with benefit proportionate to the duration of breastfeeding.9–14 This has been attributed to better appetite regulation and/or lower weight gain in breastfed infants, and/or effects of nutrients or bioactive constituents in breast milk.6 Fewer studies have investigated long-term associations with the timing of initiation of complementary feeding, but lower rates of childhood obesity have been reported among those who started complementary foods later.