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Pregnancy and Birth to 24 Months Systematic Review

Systematic Review Question

What is the relationship between shorter versus longer durations of exclusive human milk feeding and cardiovascular disease outcomes in offspring?

Conclusion Statement

Limited evidence suggests that there is no association between the duration of exclusive human milk feeding and blood pressure in childhood or metabolic syndrome at 11.5 years of age. Most of the evidence comes from just one non-US sample assessed using a strong study design. 

There was insufficient evidence to determine the relationship of shorter versus longer durations of exclusive human milk feeding with endpoint cardiovascular disease outcomes, blood pressure in adolescence or adulthood, blood lipids, and metabolic syndrome at ages other than 11.5 years

Grade: Limited – blood pressure in childhood, metabolic syndrome at age 11.5 years; Grade Not Assignable – cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular disease-related mortality, blood lipids, blood pressure in adolescence or adulthood, arterial stiffness, metabolic syndrome at ages other than 11.5 years.