2014年12月22日訊 /生物谷BIOON/ --對於高危肥胖嬰兒，他們餵母乳時間越長，就越不可能會成為超重。近日一項新的研究表明：母乳餵養持續時間越長，似乎對超重和肥胖的早期徵兆越有保護作用。研究員Stacy Carling博士生和她的同事追訪595名孩子（從出生到2歲），他們在這個時間內追蹤記錄孩子的重量和身高，並比較將兒童的成長軌跡與這些孩子吃母乳時間長短關聯起來。
當考慮高風險的體重增加，兒童身體質量指數（BMI）漲幅高於平均水平更快，隨著他們成長。BMI是根據人的身高和體重的測量。
獲得額外體重風險最高兒童的母親包括那些超重或肥胖母親，教育水平低母親和懷孕期間吸菸的母親。595名兒童中近59％的孩子處於超重危險之中，其母親曾有以上一個或多個特徵。在這些肥胖風險較高的兒童中，嬰兒母乳餵養不到兩個月的時間。相比於吃母乳至少4個月的兒童，母乳餵養不到兩個月時間的嬰兒有超過兩倍多的可能性獲得額外的重量。
這項研究結果發表在Pediatrics雜誌上。但這項研究並不能證明母乳餵養會造成肥胖的風險降低。仍然有多種原因影響嬰兒肥胖，該研究的作者指出了為什麼母乳餵養和肥胖風險降低之間可能存在聯繫。研究揭示母乳餵養的嬰兒可能允許飢餓和飽腹感信號的正常發育，可以幫助防止某些因素導致的超重和肥胖的行為。
同時研究指出在嬰兒需要時進行餵母乳（比如嬰兒餓了的時候），從而可以促嬰兒食慾控制的早期發育。當母乳餵養嬰兒，母親可以控制嬰兒母乳獲得的時間和頻率，嬰兒能自然地應對飢餓和飽食感信號。這項研究由美國衛生國家研究院資助。（生物谷Bioon.com）
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Breastfeeding Duration and Weight Gain Trajectory in Infancy
Stacy J. Carling,et al.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Short breastfeeding duration may exacerbate accelerated early growth, which is linked to higher obesity risk in later life. This study tested the hypothesis that infants at higher risk for obesity were more likely to be members of a rising weight-for-length (WFL) z score trajectory if breastfed for shorter durations.
METHODS: This prospective, observational study recruited women from an obstetric patient population in rural central New York. Medical records of children born to women in the cohort were audited for weight and length measurements (n = 595). We identified weight gain trajectories for infants』 WFL z scores from 0 to 24 months by using maximum likelihood latent class models. Individual risk factors associated with weight gain trajectories (P ≤ .05) were included in an obesity risk index. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate whether the association between breastfeeding duration (<2 months, 2–4 months, >4 months) and weight gain trajectory varied across obesity risk groups.
RESULTS: Rising and stable weight gain trajectories emerged. The obesity risk index included maternal BMI, education, and smoking during pregnancy. High-risk infants breastfed for <2 months were more likely to belong to a rising rather than stable weight gain trajectory (odds ratio, 2.55; 95% confidence interval, 1.14–5.72; P = .02).
CONCLUSIONS: Infants at the highest risk for rising weight patterns appear to benefit the most from longer breastfeeding duration. Targeting mothers of high-risk infants for breastfeeding promotion and support may be protective against overweight and obesity during a critical window of development.