Background Breastfeeding is associated with healthier weight and nutrient status in early life. However, the impact of breastfeeding on carotenoid status beyond infancy, and the influence of adiposity, is unknown. Objective The aim of the study was to retrospectively investigate the relationship between breastfeeding and carotenoid status, and the mediating effect of weight status and adiposity on this relationship among school-aged children. Methods This was a secondary analysis of baseline data collected from a randomized-controlled clinical trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03521349). 7–12-year-old (n = 81) children were recruited from East-Central Illinois. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to assess visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and whole-body adiposity (%Fat). Weight was obtained to calculated body mass index percentile (BMI %ile). Skin carotenoids were assessed via reflection spectroscopy. Macular carotenoids were assessed as macular pigment optical density (MPOD). Dietary, birth, and breastfeeding information was self-reported by parents. Results Skin carotenoids were inversely related to %Fat (P < 0.01), VAT (P < 0.01) and BMI %ile (P < 0.01). VAT and BMI %ile significantly mediated this relationship between exclusive breastfeeding duration and skin carotenoids, following adjustment for dietary carotenoids, energy intake, and mother education. Conclusions Weight status and adipose tissue distribution mediate the positive correlation between exclusive breastfeeding duration and skin carotenoids among children aged 7–12 years. The results indicate the need to support breastfeeding and healthy physical growth in childhood for optimal carotenoid status.

This study investigated the relationship between six-minute walking test (6MWT) distance walked and preschool-aged children’s academic abilities, and behavioral and event-related potentials (ERP) indices of cognitive control. There were 59 children (25 females; age: 5.0 ± 0.6 years) who completed a 6MWT (mean distance: 449.6 ± 82.0 m) to estimate cardiorespiratory fitness. The Woodcock Johnson Early Cognitive and Academic Development Test evaluated academic abilities. A modified Eriksen flanker, hearts and flowers task, and auditory oddball task eliciting ERPs (N2, P3) assessed cognitive control. After adjusting for adiposity, diet, and demographics, linear regressions resulted in positive relationships between 6MWT distance and General Intellectual Ability (β = 0.25, Adj R2 = 0.04, p = 0.04) and Expressive Language (β = 0.30, Adj R2 = 0.13, p = 0.02). 6MWT distance was positively correlated with congruent accuracy (β = 0.29, Adj R2 = 0.18, p < 0.01) and negatively with incongruent reaction time (β = −0.26, Adj R2 = 0.05, p = 0.04) during the flanker task, and positively with homogeneous (β = 0.23, Adj R2 = 0.21, p = 0.04) and heterogeneous (β = 0.26, Adj R2 = 0.40, p = 0.02) accuracy on the hearts and flowers task. Higher fit children showed faster N2 latencies and greater P3 amplitudes to target stimuli; however, these were at the trend level following the adjustment of covariates. These findings indicate that the positive influence of cardiorespiratory fitness on cognitive function is evident in 4–6-year-olds.

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