Association between breastfeeding and lung volumes and alveolar size

Aim: In a previous study we found that non-breastfed children of asthmatic mothers (CAM) had lower FVC and FEV1 compared with non-breastfed children of non-asthmatic mothers (CnAM), but breastfeeding (BF) compensated, improving these values in CAM (Dogaru 2010 ERJ 678s). We extended this study, analyzing plethysmographic lung volumes (LV) and alveolar size in a different group. Method: In 132 UK-born subjects (7-21yrs) we measured FRC and TLC by plethysmography and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC, proxy for alveolar size) by He3-magnetic resonance. We used linear regressions adjusting for LV predictors and potential confounders and stratified by maternal asthma (MA). Results: 32 (24%) of children were not BF, 38 (29%) were BF ≤3mo and 53 (40%) BF>3mo; 24 (18%) had asthmatic mothers. We found no significant associations between BF and alveolar size, FRC or TLC in the whole group. However, stratification by MA showed a) that non-breastfed CAM have lower FRC and TLC but similar ADC means compared with non-breastfed CnAM and b) a trend for higher FRC and TLC in CAM if breastfed (Table). ![Figure][1] Conclusion: These results support previous findings that reduced LV in non-BF CAM compared with non-BF CnAM are compensated by BF. Since alveolar size was similar in CAM and CnAM, we suggest that alveolar number is reduced in CAM without BF, but can be partially increased with BF. Confirmation will require larger samples. Funding: Asthma UK 07/048; SNF 3200B0-122341. [1]: pending:yes