Prolonged breastfeeding, sugar consumption and dental caries at 2years of age: A birth cohort study

• Published in: Community dentistry and oral epidemiology 2023-06, Vol.51 (3), p.575-582
• Main Authors: Abanto, Jenny, Maruyama, Jessica Mayumi, Pinheiro, Emanuella, Matijasevich, Alicia, Antunes, José L F, Bönecker, Marcelo, Cardoso, Marly A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Breast feeding; Breastfeeding & lactation; Childrens health; Cohort analysis; Dental caries; Health risks; Oral hygiene; Preschool children; Risk factors; Sugar
• ISSN: 0301-5661; 1600-0528
• DOI: 10.1111/cdoe.12813

ObjectivesPrevious cohort studies have found a positive association between prolonged breastfeeding (≥12 months) on dental caries, but few of them analysed the mediated effect of sugar consumption on this association. This study investigated whether prolonged breastfeeding is a risk factor for caries at 2‐year follow‐up assessment (21–27 months of age) and whether this effect is mediated by sugar consumption.MethodsA birth cohort study was performed in the Brazilian Amazon (n = 800). Dental caries was assessed using the dmf‐t index. Prolonged breastfeeding was the main exposure. Data on baseline covariables and sugar consumption at follow‐up visits were analysed. We estimated the OR for total causal effect (TCE) and natural indirect effect (NIE) of prolonged breastfeeding on dental caries using the G‐formula.ResultsThe prevalence of caries was 22.8% (95% CI: 19.8%–25.8%). Children who were breastfed for 12–23 months (TCE = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.05–1.20) and for ≥24 months (TCE = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.14–1.40) presented a higher risk of caries at age of 2 years than those breastfed