A study has found that breastfeeding may protect nursing mothers from metabolic syndrome.

Observing 1,399 women aged 18-30 years who were enrolled in the ongoing Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study for 20 years, the researchers found that increased duration of lactation was associated with lower crude incidence rates of metabolic syndrome from 0 to 1 month through 9 months or more of breastfeeding.

Metabolic syndrome is a clustering of risk factors related to obesity and metabolism.  It strongly predicts future diabetes and, possibly, coronary heart disease during midlife, and early death for women.

“Further investigation is needed to elucidate the mechanisms through which lactation may influence women’s cardiometabolic risk profiles, and whether lifestyle modifications, including lactation duration, may affect development of coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes, particularly among high-risk groups such as women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus,” the study authors said.

Related Posts:

• No Related Posts