Cardiovascular Pharmacology: Open Access

Does pacifier use in infancy decrease the risk of obesity?

Joint Event on Heart Failure, Pediatric Cardiology & Nursing Education

February 18-19, 2019 | Amsterdam, Netherlands

Ahdi Amer

Wayne State University School of Medicine, USA

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Cardiovasc Pharm Open Access

Abstract:

Background & Objective: Non-nutritive sucking (NNS) using a finger or pacifier is a natural reflex for infants. In gratifying this innate need, NNS can be soothing and may facilitate a smooth transition to sleep. We hypothesized that infants with their innate desire for gratification through NNS may overfeed if the bottle or breast is constantly offered instead of a pacifier. Our primary objective was to determine whether the use of pacifier in early infancy is associated with lower incidence of obesity at 9-15 month of age.

Methods: Parents of 399 infants 9 to 15 months old visiting the General Academic Pediatric Clinic were interviewed. They were asked whether a pacifier was used consistently ≥9 months and the reason for its use. BMIs at birth, 6 months and on the day of interview were calculated.

Results: Of the 399 recruited infants, 204 (51%) used a pacifier consistently for ≥9 months and 195 (49%) were non-user. More infants in the pacifier non-user group were significantly either overweight, 40 (21%) with BMI ≥85% or obese, 32 (16%) with BMI ≥95% than in the pacifier user group: 22 (11%) and 22 (11%) respectively (P.003). Formula fed infants accounted for the increased number of overweight and obese infants in the non-user group.

Conclusions: The use of a pacifier in infancy was associated with a lower incidence of obesity at 9-15 month of age. Given the current prevalence of childhood obesity, we believe that offering a pacifier between feeds can provide a protective effect against infantile obesity.

Biography :

Ahdi Amer is a Professor of Pediatrics at Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan. He has expertise in the field of General Academic Pediatrics and Pediatric Infectious Diseases. His main areas of interest are vaccine development, vaccine safety, and various pediatric infectious and dermatological disorders. He has conducted clinical research supported by the WHO, Merck and Pfizer on vaccines and other infectious and dermatological topics. He has authored and co-authored >40 articles published in peer-reviewed journals. He has presented in several national and international settings on vaccine-related topics.

E-mail: aamer@med.wayne.edu