Breast-Feeding Protects Against Heart Disease?

Previous evidence has documented many benefits to breast-feeding, including protection against infections and allergies and the promotion of neurodevelopment. Limited research has addressed the effects of breastfeeding beyond the first years of life, although those few studies did show an association between breast-feeding and the biological risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

The authors of the current study examined breast-feeding at infancy and its potential relationship to glucose tolerance, plasma lipid profiles, blood pressure and body mass in 625 subjects, now 48-53 years old. Hospital records provided retrospective data on the method of infant feeding at time of discharge after birth. Feeding methods were classified as exclusive breast-feeding, partial bottle feeding, or exclusive bottle feeding. Maternal characteristics and infant birth weight were also collected.

Results indicated that breastfed subjects (exclusive or partial) had lower 120-minute plasma glucose concentrations, higher low density lipoprotein (LDL) and lower high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations, and lower LDL/HDL ratio compared with subjects who had been exclusively bottle-fed. The study found that exclusive breast-feeding appeared to have a protective effect against some cardiovascular risk factors later in life. The authors note: "Our results support the hypothesis that the method of infant feeding is an important determinant of health in adult life."

Ravelli ACJ, van der Meulen JHP, Osmond C, et al. Infant feeding and adult glucose tolerance, lipid profile, blood pressure, and obesity. Archives of Disease in Childhood 2000:82, pp248-52.