Breast Feeding Babies Curbs the Likelihood of Heart Diseases and Metabolic Disorder in Later Years: Study

Babies with low birth weight and those who were breastfed for less than three months have risk of developing heart problems and metabolic diseases in later years, finds a study.

Previous clinical trials by the University of Evanston in Illinois suggest birth weight and duration of breast feeding impacts release of C-reactive protein (CRP), a bio-marker for inflammation and cardiovascular diseases. Experts at Brown School at Washington University, St Louis, found the two factors influence a person's susceptibility for metabolic disorders and heart diseases during adulthood.

Their research involved health records of children, mothers' breast feeding habits, survey information and blood tests indicating the levels of CRP. They compared amount of CRP in children who were breast fed and their siblings who were not. Breast feeding significantly controlled the level of CRP in children thereby, averting the possibility of having impaired metabolism, abdominal adiposity, high blood pressure, increased triglyceride and fasting glucose level. These conditions can hike up the risk of suffering from diabetes and cardiovascular disease.  

"This study shows that birth weight and breastfeeding both have implications for children's health decades later. Comparing the long-term effects of breastfeeding to the effects of clinical trials of statin therapy, we find breastfeeding to exert effects that are as large or larger," said Molly W. Metzger, coauthor and assistant professor at the Brown School in a news release.

The study results point at the importance of breast feeding infants for at least three months after birth. Poor nutrition and prenatal care directly impacts birth weight and health of babies. The authors urge women to seek medical assistance by enrolling in insurance and health facilities that help afford proper health measures and treatments.

"These findings underscore the importance of a preventive approach, including but not limited to prenatal health care and postnatal breastfeeding support," adds Metzger.

More information is available online in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.