Hormonal
Longer duration of lactation is associated with a significantly lower incidence of metabolic syndrome in women, with a stronger protective effect observed in women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
For women who have given birth, extending the duration of breastfeeding appears to offer significant long-term protection against metabolic syndrome, especially for those who experienced gestational diabetes. While the study is observational, the strong association suggests that longer lactation durations (approaching 9+ months) may be a valuable component of long-term cardiometabolic health strategies for mothers.
Longer duration of lactation was associated with lower incidence of the metabolic syndrome years after weaning among women with a history of GDM and without GDM... risk reductions associated with longer lactation were stronger among GDM (relative hazard range 0.14 – 0.56; P ≤ 0.03) than non-GDM groups (relative hazard range 0.44 – 0.61; P ≤ 0.03).
Why this rating
High-quality prospective cohort study (CARDIA) with 20-year follow-up, controlling for many confounders, though observational design prevents causal inference.
Source
Duration of Lactation and Incidence of the Metabolic Syndrome in Women of Reproductive Age According to Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Status: A 20-Year Prospective Study in CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults)
Erica P. Gunderson et al. · Diabetes · 2009
DOI 10.2337/db09-1197
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