Breast-Feeding Might Lower Risk for Maternal Cardiovascular Disease

Women who reported lifetime breast-feeding of at least 7 months’ duration were less likely to develop CVD.

Breast-feeding has been associated with beneficial effects on maternal blood pressure, diabetes risk, and lipid metabolism. But, does a woman’s decision to breast-feed affect her future risk for cardiovascular disease? To address this question, investigators conducted a secondary analysis of data collected from >139,000 women with at least one live birth who participated in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI).

In an analysis adjusted for sociodemographic and lifestyle variables, women who reported lifetime breast-feeding of >12 months’ duration were 10% to 20% less likely than those who did not breast-feed to have hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, or CVD before enrollment in the WHI. During a mean follow-up of 7.9 years, women…

Reviewing Author

Robert W. Rebar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMyovant Sciences, Inc.

Editorial BoardsEndoText; Clinical OB/GYN Alert

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society for Reproductive Medicine (Member, Ethics Committee)

Robert W. Rebar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMyovant Sciences, Inc.

Editorial BoardsEndoText; Clinical OB/GYN Alert

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society for Reproductive Medicine (Member, Ethics Committee)

Breast-Feeding Might Lower Risk for Maternal Cardiovascular Disease

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Reviewing Author