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Nutrition in early life

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2021) cite this article

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of birth weight and breastfeeding duration on the health components of the body.

The study participants were 985 teenage boys and 1246 girls (12.5-17.5 years old) who participated in the Helena study. Standardized physical fitness programs include: cardiorespiratory fitness, flexibility, upper body muscle strength and lower body explosive power. The parents’ questionnaire was used to assess birth weight and breastfeeding time. Use a linear mixed model to study the relationship between newborn data and physical health.

A significant correlation between body muscle strength and breastfeeding duration was observed in the unadjusted boy analysis. When adjusting for potential confounding factors (z-score body mass index, fat-free mass, fat mass), only the reduction of body muscle strength by standing long jump (an alternative measure of muscle power) was positively correlated with breastfeeding duration. In addition, a significant correlation was observed between the upper body muscle strength (through grip strength) of boys and girls—a surrogate indicator of muscle strength.

Birth weight and breastfeeding time have different effects on muscle strength components. The current results indicate that birth weight has a positive effect on the development of muscle strength, while the duration of breastfeeding has a positive effect on muscle power.

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The content of this article only reflects the views of the author, and the European Commission is not responsible for any use of the information contained in this article. We thank Muriel BEUVRY and Anne GAUTREAU (CIC-1403-CHU-Inserm de Lille, France) for helping to type this manuscript.

The Helena study was conducted under the financial support of the sixth RTD framework plan (contract FOOD-CT-20056007034) of the European Commission. This research was also funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (AP 2008-03806).

University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1286-INFINITE-Inflammation Transformation Institute and CIC 1403-Clinical Investigation Center, F-59000, Lille, France

Laurent Béghin, Jérémy Vanhelst and Frédéric Gottrand

University Lille, CHU Lille, ULR 2694-METRICS: Évaluation des Technologies de Santé et des Pratiques Médicales et Départment de Biostatistiques, F-59000, Lille, France

Child Nutrition Research Department, Pediatric University Clinic, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany

Department of Pediatrics, Pecs University, Hungary

Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece

Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Vienna, Austria

Department of Nutrition and Nutrition, Faculty of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece

GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group. Escuela Universitaria de Ciencas de la Salud, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain

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Laurent Béghin and Jérémy Vanhelst designed data collection tools, coordinated and supervised data collection, performed preliminary analysis and drafted the initial manuscript. Elodie Drumez conducted preliminary analysis, statistical analysis and drafted the initial manuscript. Mathilde Kersting, Denes Molnar, Anthony Kafatos, and Eva Karaglani designed data collection tools, coordinated and supervised data collection, and critically reviewed the important knowledge content of the manuscript. Stefaan De Henauwn, Kurt Wildhalm, Luis A. Moreno, and Frédéric Gottrand conceptualized and designed the research, supervised data collection, coordinated research, and critically reviewed the important knowledge content of the manuscript. All authors approved the submitted final manuscript and agreed to be responsible for all aspects of the work.

Correspondence with Laurent Béghin.

Frédéric Gottrand received consulting fees from Nestlé and funding from Lactalis. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest. The content of this article only reflects the views of the author, and the European Community is not responsible for any use of the information contained in it.

The publisher states that Springer Nature remains neutral on the jurisdiction claims of published maps and agency affiliates.

Béghin, L., Vanhelst, J., Drumez, E. etc. The correlation between birth weight and breastfeeding and physical fitness is different. Eur J Clin Nutr (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-021-01038-6

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-021-01038-6

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European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Eur J Clin Nutr) ISSN 1476-5640 (online) ISSN 0954-3007 (printed version)