Growth in Exclusively Breastfed and Non-exclusively Breastfed Children: Comparisons with WHO Child Growth Standards and Korean National Growth Charts

Abstract

Background This study examined the relationship of infant feeding with anthropometric indices of children during their first six years of life relative to the Korean National Growth Charts (KNGC) and the World Health Organization Child Growth Standards (WHO-CGS). Methods The study population consisted of 547,669 Korean infants and children who were 6 months-old to 6 years-old (born in 2008–2009) and participated in the National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children. Data on height, weight, and type of feeding during the first 6 months (exclusively breastfed [BF] vs. mixed- or formula-fed [FF]) were analyzed. Results BF boys and girls were significantly shorter and lighter than FF counterparts from the age of 6 months to 4 years, but these differences were not significant after the age of 4 years. BF boys and girls only had significantly lower body mass index at the age of 2 years. Under the age of 2 years 6 months, and especially under the age of 1 year, BF boys and girls were significantly taller and heavier than the 50th percentile values of the 50th percentile value of the WHO-CGS. Conclusion In this study using large-scaled national data, Korean breastfed children are shorter and lighter by 3 years 6 months–4 years 6 months, but afterward, there is no significant difference from those who had mixed- or formula-feeding. Substantial disparities in the anthropometric indices of Korean infants under the age of 1 compared to KNCG and WHO-CGS were found, regardless of their infantile feeding types. Our results emphasize the importance of constructing a nationwide reference chart based on actual measurements of BF Korean infants.

Growth, Nutritional Status, and Dietary Intake Patterns Associated With Prolonged Breastfeeding in Young Korean Children: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study

“… 20 21 22 23 24 A recent Korean study showed that children who were exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life were shorter and lighter up to approximately 4 years of age than mixed- or formula-fed children. 25 Our results are similar, possibly because more than 2/3 of children with PBF were fully breastfed for 6 months. In addition, the number of children with WAZ < −1 (mildly underweight) 26 27 was significantly greater among children with PBF, although only two of them had WAZ < −2.…”

“…In a Korean pediatric study comparing body mass index (BMI) up to 6 years of age according to the infant feeding method, there was no significant difference in BMI between the children with 6 months EBF and those without, except for the 2-years-old age group. 25 Therefore, further research on this subject with school-age Korean children is needed to determine the clinical significance of the relatively low protein intake in toddlers with PBF compared to those without PBF in our study population.…”

Differences in Growth and Dietary and Nutrient Intake Patterns by Breastfeeding Status Over One Year Among Korean Children Aged 24–35 Months

“…Previous research on how and by when breastfed children's growth differs from formula-fed children depends on the conditions of the study population and growth measurement parameters. 22 23 24 25 26 A recent Korean study of infants and toddlers from the NHSPIC found that infants who were exclusively breastfed for six months before the age of four were shorter and weighed lesser than those who were not, consistent with our findings. 23 However, the degree of significance of the growth difference during 24–35 months of age was less than that during 12–23 months of age using the same methodology, 15 with the difference in weight averaging 200 g vs. 400 g and the difference in weight gain decreasing from a 0.2 to 0.13.…”

“… 22 23 24 25 26 A recent Korean study of infants and toddlers from the NHSPIC found that infants who were exclusively breastfed for six months before the age of four were shorter and weighed lesser than those who were not, consistent with our findings. 23 However, the degree of significance of the growth difference during 24–35 months of age was less than that during 12–23 months of age using the same methodology, 15 with the difference in weight averaging 200 g vs. 400 g and the difference in weight gain decreasing from a 0.2 to 0.13. Additionally, the difference in height was not significant at age 2 years, nor was the difference in obesity.…”

Urinary concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites and childhood obesity

“…Possible explanations for our study results’ statistical insignificance include the small sample size, resulting in a decrease in the statistical power. Additionally, the effect of PAH exposure on the adiposity in children aged 3–5 years might be less significant compared to other environmental factors such as nutritional and socioeconomic statuses [ 40 , 41 ].…”