Breast feeding reduces mothers
24 April 2009
Breast feeding protects mothers against cardiovascular disease later in life, data from the Women’s Health Study suggests (Obstetrics and Gynecology 2009; 113: 974-82).
Women who had breast fed for more than 12 months were 10 per cent less likely to have developed cardiovascular disease than women who had had children and never breastfed. Breast feeding did not protect against obesity.
Data was collected from 139,681 postmenopausal women with a median age of 63 years who had given birth to at least one child. The findings were adjusted for sociodemographic factors, lifestyle variables, body mass index (BMI) and family history.
Last Reviewed: 24 April 2009
- 1. Schwarz EB, MS; Ray RM, Stuebe AM, et al. Duration of Lactation and Risk Factors for Maternal Cardiovascular Disease. Obstetrics & Gynecology 2009; 113(5): 974-82. Available at: http://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Fulltext/2009/05000/Duration_of_Lactation_and_Risk_Factors_for.5.aspx
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