Breastfeeding may help improve heart health of mothers
Studies have long claimed the benefits of breastfeeding for babies, resulting in lower risk for asthma, obesity and Type 2 diabetes and stronger immune systems.
But a new study by researchers at the University of Sydney, has found that it is beneficial for mothers too. Research suggests women who nurse their children have a lower risk of breast and ovarian cancers. The longer a woman breastfeeds, the lower their risk, whether with one child or over the course of several.
The researchers analysed the data of more than 100,000 Australian women aged 45 and over, following them for six years. They found mothers who breastfed had a 14 per cent lower risk of developing, and a 34 per cent lower risk of dying from, cardiovascular disease compared with mothers who never breastfed.
The longer the mothers breastfed, the greater the protective benefits were.
among childbearing women, breastfeeding may offer long-term heart health benefits in addition to its known benefits for infants and mothers
This is an important finding given heart disease is the leading cause of death for women worldwide, says lead author Dr. Binh Nguyen.
“Our study suggests that among childbearing women, breastfeeding may offer long-term heart health benefits in addition to its known benefits for infants and mothers,” said Dr. Nguyen from the University of Sydney’s School of Public Health and Charles Perkins Centre.
Key findings of the study:
- In women who have had children, breastfeeding compared to never breastfeeding was associated with a 14 percent lower risk of developing and a 34 percent lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.
- In women who breastfed on average up to 12 months per child, had a 15 percent lower risk of developing and a 30-40 percent lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to women who never breastfed.
- Findings were independent of socioeconomic status, and overall health-related lifestyle.
While breastfeeding and cardiovascular health is a growing area of interest there is still limited research in this area.
The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding is up to 6 months of age, with continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond.
