Study finds diabetes risk cut in half in breastfeeding women
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Study finds diabetes risk cut in half in breastfeeding women
The benefits of breastfeeding for women is remarkable and now a recent 30-year study has even more convincing news why women should consider this method of feeding her baby– a woman’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes is cut in half if they breastfeed for six months or longer.
Study results
The study found in JAMA Internal Medicine, spanned 30 years of analyzing data of the follow up from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, and included 1,230 women ages 18 to 30. A very strong association was found between breastfeeding duration and lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, even after accounting for all possible confounding risk factors.
Specifically found was that women who breastfed for six months or longer across all births, had a 47 percent reduction in their risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those who did not breastfeed at all. Women who breastfed for six months of less, even they were found to have a 25 percent reduction in diabetes risk.
This same study also found that the long-term benefits of breastfeeding in regards to lowering risk of type 2 diabetes were similar for black women and white women, and women with or without gestational diabetes. In this study, black women, were three times more likely than white women to develop type 2 diabetes within the 30-year study which is consistent with higher risk found by other studies. Black women were also less likely to breastfeed than white women.
Other health benefits to breastfeeding moms
It has been well-documented of the numerous benefits breastfeeding has for both the baby and mother. Typically, breastfeeding is highly encouraged for promoting the newborn’s health, giving them the best start in life. But, more and more information has been uncovered on how breastfeeding women also experience significant health benefits:
· It reduces their risk of breast cancer – Studies suggest that women who breastfeed reduce their risk of developing breast cancer by as much as 25 percent.
· It reduces the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer – When a woman breastfeeds, her estrogen levels are suppressed during lactation. The less estrogen available to stimulate the lining of the uterus and perhaps breast tissue also, the less the risk of these tissues becoming cancerous.
· It lessens the risk of osteoporosis – Women who do not breastfeed have a four times greater risk of developing osteoporosis than women who do breastfeed. Non-breastfeeding women are more likely to develop hip fractures in the post-menopausal years.
· It promotes postpartum weight loss – Breastfeeding mothers have more fat loss by one month postpartum when compared to women who formula feed. They also have are able to reach their pre-pregnancy weight sooner than women not breastfeeding.
Takeaway message
This latest study of many on breastfeeding adds to a growing body of evidence that breastfeeding has protective effects for both mothers and their babies. This study in particular, shows mothers who breastfeed for months after delivery, may be reducing their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to one half as they get older. This, along with the other health benefits for women, is one more reason why doctors, nurses, hospitals, and policymakers should strongly support and encourage women and their families to breastfeed as long as possible.
The more women who breastfeed and who choose to breastfeed for at least six months, the better for society and all of us in general. According to womenshealth.gov, breastfeeding has the following benefits for society:
· It reduces infant mortality – research shows that if 90% of families breastfed exclusively for six months, nearly 1,000 deaths among infants could be prevented each year
· Medical costs may be lower for infants exclusively breastfed than never breastfed infants. Breastfed infants usually have fewer sick care visits, prescriptions, and hospitalizations.
· Promotes a more productive workforce. Mothers who breastfeed may miss less work to care for sick infants than mothers who feed their infants formula. Employer medical costs may also be lower.
· Breastfeeding is better for the environment. Formula cans and bottle supplies create more trash and plastic waste.