The duration of breastfeeding and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Kądziela-Olech H, Piotrowska-Jastrzębska J

Abstract

Purpose: To examine whether duration of the breastfeeding is associated with the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children. 
Material and methods: A total of 100 children aged 4-11 years were divided into two groups: 60 children with ADHD symptoms (based on ICD-10) and 40 subjects of normal control grup. The structured interview and the retrospective questionnaire (including the items: number of pregnancy, pregnancy course, gestational age, status of newborn, birth weight, duration of breastfeeding: <3 months; 3-6 months; 6-12 months; >12 months) were used during the study of the both examined groups to indicate the risk factors of development. 
Results: No significant differences in the percentages of duration of pregnancy, pregnancy complications, delivery complications, condition of the newborn, and birth weight were found between the two groups. The mean of the duration of breastfeeding for group with ADHD was 0.45 year: 5 months and 9 days (median 0.25 year: 3 months). The mean of the duration of breastfeeding of control group was 0.55 year: 6 months and 18 days (median 0.46 year: 5 months) and was significantly greater than that of group with ADHD (p<0.04). The 36 (60%) children with ADHD were breast fed less than 3 months. For comparison 13 (32.5%) controls were breast fed less than 3 months. Significant differences were found among the two children groups (p<0.05).
Conclusions: The short duration of breastfeeding as environmental factor may be considered a risk factor of ADHD symptoms. However, the further studies are nedeed.
Key words: 	ADHD, hyperactivity, children, breastfeeding, risk factor.