October 4, 2024

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Breastfeeding improves maternal cardiovascular health for at least 3 years

Breastfeeding improves maternal cardiovascular health for at least 3 years



 

Breastfeeding improves maternal cardiovascular health for at least 3 years.

Women who breastfeed their infants for at least six months improve their cardiovascular and metabolic health for at least three years, a new study finds.

Importantly, this benefit was also seen in women with complicated pregnancies, as they are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life.

The health benefits of breastfeeding for newborns are often discussed, but the effects of breastfeeding for mothers are less frequently discussed.

 

Breastfeeding improves maternal cardiovascular health for at least 3 years

 

 

 

Now, a new study from the University of Adelaide and Flinders University in South Australia has looked at the benefits of breastfeeding on the cardiometabolic health of mothers.

Cardiometabolic diseases are a group of common but preventable conditions that include high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance.

 

Claire Roberts, corresponding author of the study, said: “In addition to the neurological and other health benefits for infants, the World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for up to 6 months, and breastfeeding for more than 12 months promotes Significant reductions in chronic hypertension and diabetes.”

 

Study participants included 160 mother-infant pairs drawn from the Screening Trial to Predict Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes (STOP) study conducted between 2015 and 2017. The researchers collected detailed health information and blood samples from the mothers during and after labor, including how long they breastfed their babies. Participants had a follow-up health check three years postpartum. “

 

The researchers found that women who breastfed for at least six months postpartum had significantly lower body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure than women who did not breastfeed.

Variables such as body mass index, age, socioeconomic status in early pregnancy, or antenatal smoking did not affect the reduction in blood pressure.

In addition, breastfeeding for at least six months was associated with higher levels of HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol).

 

When analyzing data on women with at least one pregnancy complication, including preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, and gestational diabetes, women who breastfed for at least six months had lower blood insulin and triglyceride levels and higher Higher levels of lipoprotein cholesterol.

This is good news for women with pregnancy complications, as they and their babies are at increased risk of health problems, the researchers said.

 

“Pregnancy complications are associated with risk of cardiovascular disease later in life, and their children are also at risk for impaired metabolic health early in life,” Roberts said.

 

The findings suggest that breastfeeding for at least six months is associated with overall improvements in cardiovascular health, the researchers said.

They recommend further research with larger sample sizes comparing women who breastfeed with women who do not choose to breastfeed.

 

The study was published in the International Journal of Breastfeeding.

 

 

 

 

 

Breastfeeding improves maternal cardiovascular health for at least 3 years

(source:internet, reference only)


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