Increase in breastfeeding for at least six months or more may be able women to cut their risk of developing diabetes in women, according to a study by the Kaiser Permanente Research published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.
The findings from the 30-year US study of about 1,238 black and white women regardless of race, lifestyle, weight, or whether the women had a history of gestational diabetes.
It shows that women who breastfed for at least 6 months had a 47% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who did not breastfeed at all. There was a 25% reduction in risk for those who breastfed for 6 months or less.
“We found a very strong association between breastfeeding duration and lower risk of developing diabetes, even after accounting for all possible confounding risk factors,” said lead author Erica Gunderson, senior research scientist with Kaiser Permanente.
The researchers say there may be a number of reasons why breastfeeding protects against diabetes. For instance, when women breastfeed they have lower blood sugar levels, even though sugar production goes up to keep pace with the baby’s needs. Insulin levels are also lower.
Among women who did not breastfeed at all, 10 of every 1,000 typically developed diabetes each year, the study found.
The new findings added to a growing body of evidence that breastfeeding has protective effects for both mothers and their offspring, including lowering a mother’s risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
“We have known for a long time that breastfeeding has many benefits both for mothers and babies. Previous evidence showed only weak effects on chronic disease in women”, said Tracy Flanagan, director of women’s health for Kaiser Permanente Northern California.
Flanagan added that now we see much stronger protection from this new study showing that mothers who breastfeed for months after their delivery, may be reducing their risk of developing type II diabetes by up to one half as they get older.
“This is yet another reason that doctors, nurses, and hospitals as well as policymakers should support women and their families to breastfeed as long as possible.” She said.
