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- Title
Breast-feeding influences thymic size in late infancy.
- Authors
Hasselbalch, H.; Engelmann, M. D. M.; Ersbøll, A. K.; Jeppesen, D. L.; Fleischer-Michaelsen, K.; Engelmann, M D; Ersboll, A K
- Abstract
We have previously shown that breast-fed infants have a considerably larger thymus at 4 months than formula-fed infants. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether breast-feeding also influences the thymic size in late infancy. In a cohort of 50 infants, all being partially breast-fed when recruited at 8 months, ultrasound assessment of the thymic index (a volume estimate) was performed at both 8 and 10 months of age. At 10 months the thymic index was significantly higher in those still being breast-fed compared to infants who had stopped breast-feeding between 8 and 10 months of age (P=0.05). This difference became more significant when controlled for the influence of infectious diseases (P=0.03). In infants still breast-fed at 10 months there was a significant correlation between the number of breast-feeds per day and their thymic index (P=0.01). Conclusion The effect of breast-feeding on thymus size is likely to be caused by immune modulating factors in breast milk. Breast milk influences thymic size in late infancy.
- Subjects
BREASTFEEDING; BREAST milk; THYMUS physiology; INFANT nutrition; HEALTH; PHYSIOLOGY
- Publication
European Journal of Pediatrics, 1999, Vol 158, Issue 12, p964
- ISSN
0340-6199
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1007/s004310051258