Improved Cardiovascular Health from Breastfeeding in Women
Breastfeeding, a natural and recommended practice for mothers, has been found to offer long-term health benefits. According to recent studies, breastfeeding is associated with reductions in visceral and pericardial fat in women, which contributes to a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders.
Visceral fat, the fat stored around internal organs in the abdominal cavity, and pericardial fat, the fat around the heart, are of particular concern due to their links to inflammation, insulin resistance, and higher cardiometabolic risk. The American College of Pediatricians (ACP) recommends mothers breastfeed their infants exclusively for the first six months, then combine breastfeeding with age-appropriate food between six months and 12 months.
The mechanisms by which breastfeeding influences these fat depots include hormonal changes that improve metabolism and promote mobilization of fat stores accumulated during pregnancy. Breastfeeding stimulates the release of oxytocin and prolactin, which enhance lipid metabolism and reduce visceral fat stores. This reduction in harmful fat around vital organs lowers systemic inflammation and improves cardiovascular health markers.
Research shows that women who breastfeed experience a 50 percent lower risk of progression to type 2 diabetes, independent of social or lifestyle behaviors, metabolic profiles, or body size before pregnancy. The study also aims to look at how lactation may affect left ventricular structure and function independent of pericardial fat.
While the direct studies on breastfeeding’s specific impact on pericardial fat are limited, related research on visceral fat suggests that weight loss interventions and factors improving adipose tissue inflammation positively affect fat reduction around organs. These findings imply that breastfeeding, by supporting fat mobilization and reducing adipose tissue inflammation, could also contribute to decreased pericardial fat accumulation, thereby benefiting heart health.
The study, conducted on women participating in the 30-year Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, is investigating how lactation influences cytokines and other hormones associated with plaque buildup in the arteries. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends women continue to breastfeed their children for "one year or longer as mutually desired by mother and infant." The ACP, on the other hand, recommends that women breastfeed their children for two years or longer if they are able.
In addition to the cardiovascular benefits, breastfeeding has also been linked with a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease in women. Women who breastfeed have less fat buildup in the abdomen, which may contribute to this reduced risk. As more research is conducted, the long-term health benefits of breastfeeding continue to be uncovered.
References:
[1] A. K. Brown, et al., "Maternal Lactation and Offspring Metabolic Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," Pediatrics, vol. 144, no. 2, pp. e20190009, 2019.
[3] A. M. Hoyland, et al., "Breastfeeding and Maternal Metabolic Health: A Narrative Review," Maternal Health, Neonatology and Perinatology, vol. 9, no. 1, p. 1, 2021.
[5] L. M. C. Ferreira, et al., "Breastfeeding and Maternal Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," Nutrients, vol. 11, no. 10, p. 2676, 2019.
- Breastfeeding, through hormonal changes and fat mobilization, reduces visceral and pericardial fat, contributing to enhanced heart health and cardiovascular health markers.
- Studies have demonstrated that breastfeeding can lower a woman's risk of progression to type 2 diabetes by 50 percent, independent of various factors, suggesting a potential impact on metabolic disorders and women's health.
- Furthermore, breastfeeding has been linked with a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease in women, and the reduced abdominal fat associated with lactation may play a role in this reduction.
