2 februari 2006
Research from the USA suggests that breastfeeding is associated with a reduced incidence of type 2 diabetes in the mother. The longer the duration of breastfeeding the lower the incidence of diabetes according to a study published in JAMA.
[News from the Baby Friendly News]
Researchers from Harvard Medical School and Brigham Women‘s Hospital in Boston studied 83,585 mothers in the Nurses Health Study (NHS) and 73,418 mothers in the Nurses Health Study II (NHS II). An analysis of those who had given birth in the past 15 years revealed that for each additional year of lactation, women had a decreased risk of diabetes of 15% (95% confidence interval, 1%-27%) in NHS participants and of 14% (95% confidence interval, 7%-21%) in NHS II participants, after controlling for body mass index and other risk factors.
The authors concluded that lactation may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in young and middle aged women by improving glucose homeostasis.
Duration of Lactation and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes
Stube A et al (2005). JAMA 294: 2601-2610