New research shows breastfeeding reduces risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and heart attack

Photo: Valentin Mosichev/Photo Xpress

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STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Mothers who did not breastfed were five times more likely to have arterial calcifications which can cause stroke and heart attack.

• Researchers believe apparent benefit stems from how the body stores fat and how it is used (or not used) after pregnancy.

• Study looked at breastfeeding duration of three months; WHO and AAP recommend minimum of six months of exclusive breastfeeding.

A study to be published in the January 2010 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology shows that women who do not breastfeed their infants are at increased risk for future cardiovascular disease.

Researchers studied nearly 300 women between the ages of 45-58 years who were part of a nationwide study on heart health and who had given birth at least once.  They found that mothers who had never breastfed were much more likely to have calcification or plaque in their coronary artery, aorta and carotid artery.  Over time, these deposits can build up and restrict blood flow and cause stroke or heart attack. 

The study found that 32% of the women who had not breastfed had coronary artery calcification, compared with 17% of the breastfeeding moms. The researchers found calcifications in 39% of the aortas of women who hadn't breastfed, versus 17% of the women who had. They also found plaque deposits in the carotid artery of 18% of the women who had not breastfed and 10% of those who had.  After adjusting for variables such as socioeconomic status, family history, lifestyle factors, risk factors and body mass, researchers concluded that women who had never breastfed were five times more likely to have artery calcifications than were women who had breastfed. 

The study's lead author, Dr. Eleanor Schwarz, has said that she believes that the heart health benefits from breastfeeding stem from the way the body stores and utilizes fat deposits after pregnancy.  "A woman's body expects to go through pregnancy and then lactation," Schwarz explained. "During pregnancy, a woman's body stores fat that it expects to release during lactation. If women don't breastfeed, then the body has to deal with excessive fat." 

Schwarz's team emphasizes the importance of breastfeeding and encourages mothers to try to breastfeed for at least three months, which was the length of time used in her study.  Medical organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend a minimum of six months of exclusive breastfeeding for optimal growth and development.