Attenuated growth of breast-fed children exposed to increased concentrations of methylmercury and polychlorinated biphenyls.

TY - JOUR

T1 - Attenuated growth of breast-fed children exposed to increased concentrations of methylmercury and polychlorinated biphenyls.

AU - Grandjean, Philippe

AU - Budtz-Jørgensen, Esben

AU - Steuerwald, Ulrike

AU - Heinzow, Birger

AU - Needham, Larry L.

AU - Jørgensen, Poul J.

AU - Weihe, Pál

PY - 2003/1/1

Y1 - 2003/1/1

N2 - Breast-feeding has been linked to slowed postnatal growth. Although the basis for this "weanling's dilemma" is unclear, environmental contaminants in human milk may be of relevance. We studied a Faroese birth cohort of 182 singleton children, born at term in 1994-95. Concentrations of mercury in cord blood and of polychlorinated biphenyls in maternal milk were measured, and duration of breast-feeding was recorded. At 18 months, children who had been exclusively breast-fed for at least 6 months weighed 0.59 kg less [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.03, 1.16 kg] and were 1.50 cm [95% CI = 0.52, 2.47 cm] shorter than those not breast-fed. However, calculated transfer of contaminants from human milk fully explained the attenuated growth. Irrespective of duration of breast-feeding, a doubling of the mercury concentration in cord blood was associated with a decrease in weight at 18 months by 0.19 kg (95% CI = 0.03, 0.35 kg) and in height by 0.26 cm (95% CI = -0.02, 0.55 cm). Weight and height at 42 months showed the same tendencies, but the main effect occurred before 18 months of age. Thus, in communities with increased contaminant exposures, risks associated with lactational transfer of toxicants to the infant must be considered when judging the benefits of prolonged breast-feeding.

AB - Breast-feeding has been linked to slowed postnatal growth. Although the basis for this "weanling's dilemma" is unclear, environmental contaminants in human milk may be of relevance. We studied a Faroese birth cohort of 182 singleton children, born at term in 1994-95. Concentrations of mercury in cord blood and of polychlorinated biphenyls in maternal milk were measured, and duration of breast-feeding was recorded. At 18 months, children who had been exclusively breast-fed for at least 6 months weighed 0.59 kg less [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.03, 1.16 kg] and were 1.50 cm [95% CI = 0.52, 2.47 cm] shorter than those not breast-fed. However, calculated transfer of contaminants from human milk fully explained the attenuated growth. Irrespective of duration of breast-feeding, a doubling of the mercury concentration in cord blood was associated with a decrease in weight at 18 months by 0.19 kg (95% CI = 0.03, 0.35 kg) and in height by 0.26 cm (95% CI = -0.02, 0.55 cm). Weight and height at 42 months showed the same tendencies, but the main effect occurred before 18 months of age. Thus, in communities with increased contaminant exposures, risks associated with lactational transfer of toxicants to the infant must be considered when judging the benefits of prolonged breast-feeding.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0037387921&partnerID=8YFLogxK

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 12586743

AN - SCOPUS:0037387921

SN - 0892-6638

VL - 17

SP - 699

EP - 701

JO - The FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

JF - The FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

IS - 6

ER -