Longer breastfeeding linked to blood pressure lowering effects of certain infant gut bacteria

An observational study found that infants who had more diverse bacteria in their gut had lower childhood blood pressure, and this protective association was stronger if they were breastfed for at least six months. For the research, investigators reviewed data from 526 children enrolled in a prospective study in Denmark. They looked for connections between infant gut bacteria, which can be influenced by nutrition and support a variety of health functions, and childhood blood pressure. To assess this, they collected fecal samples to analyze bacteria in the infants' intestines during their first week, month, and year of life. Three and...