Case-control studyindependent cross-checkabstract checked I-ORG-120 standard review

Breastfeeding and adenoid size in preschool children

Impact of Breastfeeding Duration on Adenoid Hypertrophy, Snoring and Acute Otitis Media: A Case-Control Study in Preschool Children.

Overview

Zwierz A et al.. J Clin Med 2023 · PMID 38137751 · DOI 10.3390/jcm12247683

Longer breastfeeding was linked to less snoring and fewer ear infections, but not to smaller adenoids.

Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: low

Study explained simply

What did the researchers want to find out?: Relate breastfeeding duration to adenoid size and snoring
How was the study done?: Case-control study
How many people, animals or samples were studied?: 145 Polish children aged 3-5
What was actually found?: No effect on adenoid size; less snoring and AOM
How large was the observed effect?: Snoring risk >4-fold with <3 months
What do the results mean in everyday life?: Breastfeeding has benefits but does not seem to prevent adenoid enlargement
What are the study's limitations?: Small, recall bias
What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?: Contradicts the claim
Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?: European
What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?: Cannot prove causation

Authors: Zwierz A et al.
Journal: J Clin Med
Year: 2023
Identifier: PMID 38137751 DOI 10.3390/jcm12247683
Verification: verified – PubMed efetch 2026-10-26; Crossref works API 2026-10-26
Retracted: no
Corrections: none
Extent checked: abstract only
Conflicts of interest and funding: Not stated in abstract.

Is breastfeeding duration related to adenoid size, snoring and acute otitis media?

Study design: Case-control study – Case-control study of preschool children at an ENT outpatient clinic
Population: 145 children aged 3-5 years
Country: Poland
Period: 2022-2023
Sample size: 145
Inclusion and exclusion criteria: Children admitted to ENT outpatient clinic with nasopharyngoscopy

Results: Breastfeeding 3 and 6 months or more reduced snoring (p = 0.021; p = 0.039); breastfeeding < 3 months was an independent factor for snoring (more than four-fold risk). Breastfeeding duration had NO effect on adenoid size, mucus coverage or open-mouth sleeping. Breastfeeding was associated with less AOM.
Absolute risks: Not reported
Authors' conclusion: Longer breastfeeding was linked to less snoring and AOM, but not to adenoid size; the snoring link is probably via craniofacial development and muscle tone.

P values only in abstract.

Directly measures adenoid size against infant feeding.

Storari 2021 suggests protection against snoring.

European (Polish) sample.

Contradicts the claim that infant feeding determines adenoid enlargement; weak study.

Multidimensional assessment
Multidimensional assessment
Authenticity of the source	verified
Methodological quality	low
Risk of bias	high
Precision of results	low
Directness	direct
Reproducibility	unknown
Consistency with the overall evidence	mixed
Regional transferability	moderate
Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive)	not applicable

Replication in prospective cohorts.