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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
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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), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

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

References
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[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.
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[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.
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[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.
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[20] Brazil (2015). Child health: Breastfeeding and Complementary feeding. Department of Primary Care. 2 ed. Brasilia. Ministry of Health.
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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

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    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

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    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

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  • @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}
    }
    

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  • 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  - 

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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

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