Breastfeeding brings

The benefits of breastfeeding seem to go far beyond maternity: new research suggests that it may reduce the risk of heart disease in women as she gets older.

And the longer a woman breastfeeds, the lower the risk.

In the study, researchers evaluated the health of the heart and blood vessels in postmenopausal women, as well as the history of their breastfeeding.

After taking into account other factors that affect heart health, such as body weight, age, cholesterol and smoking habits, the researchers concluded that women who are breastfed have cardiovascular diseases and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. much lower.

According to a study presented on Friday at the annual meeting of the European Society of Endocrinologists in Lyon, France, this reduction was greatest for women who were breastfeeding for a longer period of time. Such a study is considered preliminary until it is published in a peer-reviewed journal.

“These data indicate that breastfeeding reduces the risk of heart disease in women. However, this is only an associative study; Now we are interested in finding out the reasons underlying this protective effect, ”said study author Irene Lambrinodaki, professor at the University of Athens in Greece.

“If we can show a causal relationship with a protective effect, women will have another reason to feed their children, besides the already documented benefits of breastfeeding, for the short-term and long-term health of theirs and their children,” Lambrinodaki told the news at the meeting. release.

Previous studies have shown that breastfeeding reduces the risk of postpartum depression and the risk of certain types of cancer in women and can help mothers maintain a healthy body weight and regulate blood sugar levels.

These health benefits are probably associated with higher levels of the hormone prolactin in nursing mothers, the researchers said.

Recent studies show that prolactin reduces the risk of diabetes, which is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death among women worldwide.

Currently, researchers are studying the molecular mechanisms of the effect of prolactin on blood sugar levels. This study may reveal new goals in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases for all, not just for lactating women.