Association between infant breastfeeding practices and timing of peak height velocity: A nationwide longitudinal survey in Japan.

Several studies have discovered an association between infant feeding practices and puberty timing; however, most have involved female cohorts. Age at peak height velocity, derived from longitudinal height measurements, is a useful marker of secondary sexual maturity milestones in boys and girls. A Japanese birth cohort study revealed that breastfed children had a later age at peak height velocity than their formula-fed counterparts; this was more prominent among girls than boys. Furthermore, a duration-effect relationship was observed, where longer breastfeeding duration was associated with a later age at peak height velocity.