| Peer-Reviewed

Breastfeeding Early in Life Is Associated with Better Athletic Performance in Childhood and Adolescence: A Systematic Review

Received: 2 March 2023    Accepted: 18 March 2023    Published: 28 March 2023
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

Breastfeeding provides many short- and long-term benefits for both the child and the mother. However, little is known whether longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding early in life is associated with better athletic performance in childhood and adolescence. The present study aimed to investigate the association between breastfeeding and athletic performance. Methods: Three electronic databases (PUBMED, SCIENCE DIRECT, SCOPUS) were searched. The search and selection of articles followed the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Outcomes evaluated were breastfeeding duration and athletic performance parameters such as cardiorespiratory fitness, strength, flexibility, agility and speed. The results were double screened using predetermined criteria; extracted data and assessed the risk of bias; synthesized the evidence. Results: A total of 462 titles and abstracts were identified, and after full-text screening, seven articles were included. In five studies that exclusive breastfeeding was positively associated with several components of physical fitness (cardiorespiratory fitness, strength, flexibility, balance, speed). Only two studies found no significant association between breastfeeding and the athletic performance. Conclusion: The data from this review provide evidence that longer duration of breastfeeding provided better athletic performance in childhood and adolescence. However, further studies are needed to understand the main mechanisms involved between the components of breast milk and athletic performance.

Published in International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences (Volume 12, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20231202.11
Page(s) 39-45
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Breastfeeding, Exclusive Breastfeeding, Physical Fitness, Athletic Performance, Sport, Children, Childhood Adolescents

References
[1] Brazil. Ministry of Health. Secretariat of Primary Health Care (2019). Department of Health Promotion. Food guide for Brazilian children under 2 years old / Ministry of Health, Secretariat of Primary Health Care, Department of Health Promotion. – Brasília: Ministry of Health;
[2] Michels KA, Ghassabian A, Mumford SL, Sundaram R, Bell EM, Bello SC et al. (2017). Breastfeeding and motor development in term and preterm infants in a longitudinal US cohort. Am J Clin Nutr. (106). doi: 10.3945/ajcn.116.144279.
[3] Victora CG, Horta BL, Loret de Mola C, Quevedo L, Pinheiro RT, Gigante DP et al. (2015). Association between breastfeeding and intelligence, educational attainment, and income at 30 years of age: a prospective birth cohort study from Brazil. Lancet Glob Health. (3). doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(15)70002-1.
[4] Victora CG, Bahl R, Barros AJ, França GV, Horton S, Krasevec J et al. (2016). Lancet Breastfeeding Series Group. Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect. Lancet. (387). doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01024-7.
[5] World Health Organization. Breastfeeding. 2019. [30 December 2019. Available at: http://www.who.int/topics/breastfeeding/en/.
[6] Ortega FB, Ruiz JR, Castillo MJ, Sjöström M. (2008). Physical fitness in childhood and adolescence: a powerful marker of health. Int J Obes (32). doi: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0803774.
[7] Bray MS, Hagberg JM, Pérusse L, Rankinen T, Roth SM, Wolfarth B et al. (2009). The human gene map for performance and health-related fitness phenotypes: the 2006-2007 update. Med Sci Sports Exerc. (41) doi: 10.1249/mss.0b013e3181844179.
[8] Anderssen SA, Cooper AR, Riddoch C, Sardinha LB, Harro M, Brage S et al. (2007). Low cardiorespiratory fitness is a strong predictor for clustering of cardiovascular disease risk factors in children independent of country, age and sex. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil. (14). doi: 10.1097/HJR.0b013e328011efc1.
[9] Zaqout M, Vyncke K, Moreno LA, De Miguel-Etayo P, Lauria F, Molnar D et al. (2016). Determinant factors of physical fitness in European children. Int J Public Health. https://doi: 10.1007/s00038-016-0811-2.
[10] Béghin L. et al. (2022). Birth weight and breastfeeding are differentially associated with physical fitness components. Eur J Clin Nutr. (76). doi: 10.1038/s41430-021-01038-6.
[11] Zaqout M, Michels N, Ahrens W, Börnhorst C, Molnár D, Moreno LA et al. (2018). Associations between exclusive breastfeeding and physical fitness during childhood. Eur J Nutr. (57) doi: 10.1007/s00394-016-1337-3.
[12] Tambalis KD, Mourtakos S, Panagiotakos DB, Sidossis LS. (2019). Exclusive Breastfeeding Is Favorably Associated with Physical Fitness in Children. Breastfeed Med. (14). doi: 10.1089/bfm.2019.0043.
[13] Vafa M, Heshmati J, Sadeghi H, Shidfar F, Namazi N, Baradaran H et al. (2016). Is exclusive breastfeeding and its duration related to cardio respiratory fitness in childhood? J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. (29). doi: 10.3109/14767058.2015.1004052.
[14] Labayen I, Ruiz JR, Ortega FB, Loit HM, Harro J, Villa I et al. (2012). Exclusive breastfeeding duration and cardiorespiratory fitness in children and adolescents. Am J Clin Nutr. (95). doi: 10.3945/ajcn.111.023838.
[15] Silveira-Rodrigues JG, Soares GA, Lamounier JA, Soares DD, Damasceno VO et al. (2018). Relationship between aerobic capacity with birth weight and breastfeeding patterns in children: a cross-sectional study. Rev Nutr. (31). doi.org/10.1590/1678-98652018000500004.
[16] Corredor-Corredor D et al. (2019). Relationship between fitness, birth weight and breastfeeding in adolescents of a rural village in Spain. Sci Sports. (34).
[17] Agostoni C, Braegger C, Decsi T, Kolacek S, Koletzko B, Michaelsen KF et al. (2009). Breastfeeding: a commentary by the ESPGHAN committee on nutrition. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. (49). doi: 10.1097/MPG.0b013e31819f1e05.
[18] Johnston M et al. (2012). Section on breastfeeding. Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics (129). doi: 10.1542/peds.2011-3552.
[19] Unicef (2008). Breastfeeding Manual. Portuguese Committee for Unicef-National Commission Baby-Friendly Hospitals Initiative (p. 45), Lisbon.
[20] Brazil (2015). Child health: Breastfeeding and Complementary feeding. Department of Primary Care. 2 ed. Brasilia. Ministry of Health.
[21] Bouchard C, Tuomo Rankinen, Yvon C. Chagnon, Treva Rice, Louis Pérusse. (2000). Genomic scan for maximal oxygen uptake and its response to training in the HERITAGE Family Study. J Appl Physiol. (88). doi.org/10.1152/jappl.2000.88.2.551.
[22] Tambalis KD, Mourtakos S, Sidossis LS. (2020). Associations of Maternal Prepregnancy Body Mass Index and Gestational Weight Gain With Physical Fitness in Childhood. Pediatr Exerc Sci. (32). doi: 10.1123/pes.2020-0004.
[23] Vitolo, MR. (2015). Nutrition: from pregnancy to aging. 2nd edition. Rio de Janeiro: Rubio.
[24] Artero EG, Ortega FB, España-Romero V, Labayen I, Huybrechts I, Papadaki A et al. (2010). HELENA Study Group. Longer breastfeeding is associated with increased lower body explosive strength during adolescence. J Nutr. (140). doi: 10.3945/jn.110.123596.
[25] Wisnieski L, Kerver J, Holzman C, Todem D, Margerison-Zilko C. (2018). Breastfeeding and Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review. J Hum Lact. (34) doi: 10.1177/0890334417737038.
[26] Arenz S, Rückerl R, Koletzko B, Von Kries R. (2004). Breast-feeding and childhood obesity -a systematic review. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. (10). doi: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0802758.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Rayane Carvalho de Moura, Crislane de Moura Costa, Felipe Machado Brito, Esmeralda Maria Lustosa Barros, Ana Claúdia de Moura Barros, et al. (2023). Breastfeeding Early in Life Is Associated with Better Athletic Performance in Childhood and Adolescence: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences, 12(2), 39-45. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20231202.11

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Rayane Carvalho de Moura; Crislane de Moura Costa; Felipe Machado Brito; Esmeralda Maria Lustosa Barros; Ana Claúdia de Moura Barros, et al. Breastfeeding Early in Life Is Associated with Better Athletic Performance in Childhood and Adolescence: A Systematic Review. Int. J. Nutr. Food Sci. 2023, 12(2), 39-45. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20231202.11

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Rayane Carvalho de Moura, Crislane de Moura Costa, Felipe Machado Brito, Esmeralda Maria Lustosa Barros, Ana Claúdia de Moura Barros, et al. Breastfeeding Early in Life Is Associated with Better Athletic Performance in Childhood and Adolescence: A Systematic Review. Int J Nutr Food Sci. 2023;12(2):39-45. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20231202.11

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ijnfs.20231202.11,
      author = {Rayane Carvalho de Moura and Crislane de Moura Costa and Felipe Machado Brito and Esmeralda Maria Lustosa Barros and Ana Claúdia de Moura Barros and Acácio Salvador Veras e Silva and Sérgio Luiz Galan Ribeiro and Maria do Carmo de Carvalho e Martins and Naíza Monte Lages and Nildomar Ribeiro Viana and Gerardo Vasconcelos Mesquita and Marcos Antonio Pereira dos Santos},
      title = {Breastfeeding Early in Life Is Associated with Better Athletic Performance in Childhood and Adolescence: A Systematic Review},
      journal = {International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences},
      volume = {12},
      number = {2},
      pages = {39-45},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijnfs.20231202.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20231202.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnfs.20231202.11},
      abstract = {Breastfeeding provides many short- and long-term benefits for both the child and the mother. However, little is known whether longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding early in life is associated with better athletic performance in childhood and adolescence. The present study aimed to investigate the association between breastfeeding and athletic performance. Methods: Three electronic databases (PUBMED, SCIENCE DIRECT, SCOPUS) were searched. The search and selection of articles followed the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Outcomes evaluated were breastfeeding duration and athletic performance parameters such as cardiorespiratory fitness, strength, flexibility, agility and speed. The results were double screened using predetermined criteria; extracted data and assessed the risk of bias; synthesized the evidence. Results: A total of 462 titles and abstracts were identified, and after full-text screening, seven articles were included. In five studies that exclusive breastfeeding was positively associated with several components of physical fitness (cardiorespiratory fitness, strength, flexibility, balance, speed). Only two studies found no significant association between breastfeeding and the athletic performance. Conclusion: The data from this review provide evidence that longer duration of breastfeeding provided better athletic performance in childhood and adolescence. However, further studies are needed to understand the main mechanisms involved between the components of breast milk and athletic performance.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Breastfeeding Early in Life Is Associated with Better Athletic Performance in Childhood and Adolescence: A Systematic Review
    AU  - Rayane Carvalho de Moura
    AU  - Crislane de Moura Costa
    AU  - Felipe Machado Brito
    AU  - Esmeralda Maria Lustosa Barros
    AU  - Ana Claúdia de Moura Barros
    AU  - Acácio Salvador Veras e Silva
    AU  - Sérgio Luiz Galan Ribeiro
    AU  - Maria do Carmo de Carvalho e Martins
    AU  - Naíza Monte Lages
    AU  - Nildomar Ribeiro Viana
    AU  - Gerardo Vasconcelos Mesquita
    AU  - Marcos Antonio Pereira dos Santos
    Y1  - 2023/03/28
    PY  - 2023
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20231202.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20231202.11
    T2  - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences
    JF  - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences
    JO  - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences
    SP  - 39
    EP  - 45
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2327-2716
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20231202.11
    AB  - Breastfeeding provides many short- and long-term benefits for both the child and the mother. However, little is known whether longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding early in life is associated with better athletic performance in childhood and adolescence. The present study aimed to investigate the association between breastfeeding and athletic performance. Methods: Three electronic databases (PUBMED, SCIENCE DIRECT, SCOPUS) were searched. The search and selection of articles followed the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Outcomes evaluated were breastfeeding duration and athletic performance parameters such as cardiorespiratory fitness, strength, flexibility, agility and speed. The results were double screened using predetermined criteria; extracted data and assessed the risk of bias; synthesized the evidence. Results: A total of 462 titles and abstracts were identified, and after full-text screening, seven articles were included. In five studies that exclusive breastfeeding was positively associated with several components of physical fitness (cardiorespiratory fitness, strength, flexibility, balance, speed). Only two studies found no significant association between breastfeeding and the athletic performance. Conclusion: The data from this review provide evidence that longer duration of breastfeeding provided better athletic performance in childhood and adolescence. However, further studies are needed to understand the main mechanisms involved between the components of breast milk and athletic performance.
    VL  - 12
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Department of Nutrition, Study Group in Physiology Applied to Performance and Health. Federal University of Piauí, Secretary of State for Education of Piauí, Teresina, Brazil

  • Department of Nutrition, Study Group in Physiology Applied to Performance and Health, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Brazil

  • Departament of Physical Education, Study Group in Physiology Applied to Performance and Health, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Brazil

  • Department of Biophysics and Physiology, Study Group in Physiology Applied to Performance and Health, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Brazil

  • Department of Biophysics and Physiology, Study Group in Physiology Applied to Performance and Health, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Brazil

  • Department of Biophysics and Physiology, Study Group in Physiology Applied to Performance and Health, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Brazil

  • Departament of Physical Education, Study Group in Physiology Applied to Performance and Health, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Brazil

  • Department of Biophysics and Physiology, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Brazil, College of Higher Education of Floriano-Floriano, Piauí, Brazil

  • Secretary of State for Education of Piauí, Barras, Brazil

  • Departament of Biophysics and Phsyology, Laboratory of Functional and Molecular Studies in Physiopharmacology, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Brazil

  • Department of Specialized Medicine, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Brazil

  • Department of Biophysics and Physiology, Study Group in Physiology Applied to Performance and Health, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Brazil

  • Sections