Research breast milk for the hearts of premature babies the best

Heart development of premature babies clearly benefits from breastfeeding
Preterm children are not only weakened in their constitution during the first months of life, but also in adulthood, many show increased problems, for example, with the heart. In a recent study, scientists at the University of Oxford have now found that premature babies who were breast-fed had significantly better heart function than bottle-fed children. The researchers published their results in the journal "Pediatrics".

The hearts of premature babies, according to the research team led by Professor Paul Leeson and Dr. Adam Lewandowski from Oxford University often finds an abnormal development. In older studies, the scientists were able to demonstrate that in the premature infants in later adulthood, the heart chambers were smaller, the heart walls thicker and the heart functions were limited. The changes in the heart occurred during the first months after birth. Therefore, the researchers have now investigated whether the way the infant nutrition has an influence on the development of the child.

In premature babies, heart development is often compromised, which can also cause discomfort in adulthood. Breast milk counteracts possible impairments here. (Image: tiagozr / fotolia.com)

Cardiovascular follow-up after about 30 years
The scientists used the data from previous studies for their current study and re-examined the heart of part of the subjects. "We already had data from more than 900 people who had been seen since birth in an earlier study that started in 1982 on the effects of different feeding methods on premature babies," study director Dr. Lewandowski. Subjects were invited to Oxford for a detailed cardiovascular follow-up. Of the original participants, 102 came to Oxford and participated in the study. Another 102 participants of the same age who were not preemies also participated in the study.

Impaired cardiac function of premature babies
On the one hand, the current study confirmed that premature babies show significant disadvantages compared to normal births in their heart volume and heart function. However, it was also shown that these impairments were much lower in preterm infants who were breastfed exclusively with breast milk. Even with a combination of vial and breast, the heart structure and function have improved with increasing breast milk, the researchers report. Even considering other factors that may affect the heart, breast milk is associated with clear benefits in heart volume and function, according to the University of Oxford Communication.

Compensation of the disadvantages of heart development
Study Director Lewandowski concludes that "even the best baby food lacks some of the growth factors, enzymes and antibodies that make breast milk available for baby development." Breastfeeding could at least partially offset the drawbacks that premature babies may face during heart development , emphasizes the expert. The current study provides the first evidence of a useful link between breast milk and cardiac morphology into adulthood. Long-term cardiovascular risk for those affected can be significantly reduced. (Fp)