Abstract
Breastmilk is the optimal food for infants. Feeding pattern is closely related to physical development and health during infancy. Understanding the associations between feeding patterns and health status can inform related policy interventions and advocacy in China. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between infant feeding patterns and health status in China infants. The China National Nutrition and Health Surveillance 2013 was a national-representative cross-sectional study performed particularly for children aged 0–5 years. A total of 3974 infants aged under 1 year were included in the analysis, of whom 1082 (27.2%) made up the formula feeding group, and 2892 (72.8%) made up the breastfeeding group. The associations between feeding patterns and physical development and health were investigated using propensity score matching and multivariable logistic regression models. Among breastfeeding and formula feeding infants aged 9–11 months old, weight-for-age z score was 1.1 ± 1.1 and 0.9 ± 1.3, respectively, and weight-for-length z score was 1.0 ± 1.3 and 0.7 ± 1.4, respectively. Hemoglobin in 0–2, 3–5, 6–8, and 9–11 months old breastfeeding infants was 121.4 ± 15.2 g/L, 117.1 ± 13.0 g/L, 113. 9 ± 11.9 g/L, and 114.4 ± 14.0 g/L, while in 0–2, 3–5, 6–8, and 9–11 months formula feeding infants was 116.3 ± 14.8 g/L, 120.4 ± 11.3 g/L, 119.8 ± 11.2 g/L, and 120.0 ± 11.5 g/L, respectively. Breastfeeding was associated with lower risk of respiratory disease (OR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.64, 0.99) and diarrhea (OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.57, 0.98). Breastfeeding could slightly improve infant physical development, and had a protective effect on the diarrheal and respiratory diseases. Infants aged 3–11 months who were breastfeeding showed lower hemoglobin than that of formula-fed infants and thus should increase intake of iron rich complementary foods.
Highlights
Nutrition is critical for the development of children
Breastfeeding infants made up nearly three times the number of formula-fed infants
There were differences in living area, annual income per capita, whether the infant was born to term or not, birth weight, physical activity time, complementary food intake, and mother’s educational level and occupation
Summary
Human milk is the optimal food for infants and is closely related to health during infancy. And prolonged breastfeeding has been proven to ensure the best possible health and developmental outcomes for the infant [1]. Exclusive breastfeeding for four to six months is generally considered one of the best protective measures to prevent allergy and associated illnesses [2]. According to previous studies, breastfeeding is protective against acute respiratory infection and diarrhea [3,4,5], and is considered to be one path to lower healthcare economic costs due to lower incidence of diseases in both breastfed infants and breastfeeding mothers [6]. Breast milk is rich in antimicrobial substances that are important in preventing early-life infections, including immunoglobulins, complement proteins, lysozyme, lactoferrins, and oligosaccharides [7,8].
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