Publication
Title
Breastfeeding predicts blood mitochondrial DNA content in adolescents
Author
Abstract
Nutrition during early childhood is linked to metabolic programming. We hypothesized that breastfeeding has long-term consequences on the energy metabolism exemplified by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). As part of the third cycle of the Flemish Environment and Health Study (FLEHSIII) cohort, 303 adolescents aged 14-15 years were included. We associated breastfeeding and blood mtDNA content 14-15 years later while adjusting for confounding variables. Compared with non-breastfed adolescents, mtDNA content was 23.1% (95%CI: 4.4-45.2; p = 0.013) higher in breastfed adolescents. Being breastfed for 1-10 weeks, 11-20 weeks, and >20 weeks, was associated with a higher mtDNA content of respectively 16.0% (95%CI: -7.1-44.9; p = 0.191), 23.5% (95%CI: 0.8-51.3; p = 0.042), and 31.5% (95%CI: 4.3-65.7; p = 0.021). Our study showed a positive association between breastfeeding and mtDNA content in adolescents which gradually increased with longer periods of breastfeeding. Higher mtDNA content may be an underlying mechanism of the beneficial effects of breastfeeding on children's metabolism.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Scientific reports. - London, 2011, currens
Publication
London : Nature Publishing Group , 2020
ISSN
2045-2322
DOI
10.1038/S41598-019-57276-Z
Volume/pages
10 :1 (2020) , p. 1-9
Article Reference
387
ISI
000551445800003
Pubmed ID
31941967
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
ENVIRONAGE: Unravelling environmental exposures in the core axis of ageing
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 14.09.2020
Last edited 02.10.2024
To cite this reference