Breast feeding in infancy and arterial endothelial function later in life. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

Background/Objectives: Breast feeding in infancy may be associated with reduced cardiovascular morbidity in adulthood. We examined the association between breast feeding in infancy and arterial function and structure in adulthood in a population-based cohort of Finnish adults. Subjects/Methods: Noninvasive ultrasound was used to measure brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and carotid artery compliance (CAC) in 1667 young adults participating in the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study with data on early nutrition. Results: Maximal FMD was higher in breast-fed men compared to formula-fed men (7.2±4.0 vs 5.9±3.4%, P =0.029) while no differences were seen between breast-fed and formula-fed women (8.9±4.5 vs 8.8±5.0%, P =0.84). In men, the multivariable correlates of FMD included the group variable for breast feeding ( P =0.014), birth weight ( P =0.043), waist circumference ( P