Association Between Exclusive Breastfeeding and Mixed Feeding With Craniofacial Growth in Infants Aged 0-6 Months: A Prospective Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND Further studies are needed to better characterize the association between craniofacial growth and feeding methods in infants aged 0-6 months. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the longitudinal association between feeding modality (exclusive breastfeeding versus mixed feeding) and craniofacial growth in infants aged 0-6 months. STUDY DESIGN Observational, analytical, longitudinal cohort study. SUBJECTS A total of 120 infants were evaluated four times. OUTCOME MEASURES Nine craniofacial variables were assessed: four width, two height, and three depth measurements. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Growth increments were estimated by feeding type, and linear mixed models were used to assess associations with craniofacial development. RESULTS Exclusively breastfed infants showed greater increases in anthropometric and craniofacial measures compared with mixed feeding. Significant differences were observed in total craniofacial height (3.50 ± 0.08 vs. 3.25 ± 0.01 cm; p = 0.046), anterior facial height (2.08 ± 0.40 vs. 1.76 ± 0.07 cm; p = 0.016), maxillary depth (2.33 ± 0.04 vs. 2.21 ± 0.11 cm; p = 0.007), and mandibular depth (2.55 ± 0.02 vs. 2.41 ± 0.12 cm; p = 0.040). CONCLUSION Exclusive breastfeeding was associated with greater craniofacial growth from 0 to 6 months compared with mixed feeding, supporting its role in early craniofacial development.