A new study in the current issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests breastfeeding and formula-feeding have different impacts on the cardiovascular system in young children.

The study led by Annemieke MV Evelein and colleagues of University Medical Center Utrecht in Utrecht , Netherlands showed 5-year old children who were breastfed had a greater carotid intima-media thickness, compared with those who were bottle-fed.

For the study, the researchers measured CIMT, distensibility and elastic modulus in 306 chidren aged 5.

They found those 5-year children who were exclusively breastfed for 3 to 6 months in infancy had a CIMT that was 21 micrometer greater than that of children who were exclusively formula-fed.

Interestingly, children who were exclusively breastfed for less than 3 months or more than 6 months had a CIMT that was similar to that of formula-fed children.

Additionally, the researchers observed the two feeding methods did not make any difference in carotid stiffness.

David Liu