Question: Can Breastfeeding Benefit Heart Health?
Answer: Yes! The Framingham Heart Study recently revealed that breastfed babies are more likely as adults to have fewer cardiovascular risk factors. Lower body mass index (or BMI) and higher HDL levels (or "good" cholesterol) in adults are associated with having been breastfed as infants. In the study, the researchers found that the average adult who had been breastfed had a BMI of 26.1 (versus 26.9 for formula-fed). If the BMI is higher than 25, the risk for cardiovascular disease is increased dramatically. HDL protects against particular cardiovascular diseases, such as strokes and heart attacks, but it is important to note that total cholesterol and blood pressure are not associated with having been breastfed.
The most interesting part of this study is that about one-quarter of the participants in the study, who averaged 41 years of age, were breastfed for "at least a month as babies." So, the answer to the ever-popular question, "Will there be any benefits if I breastfeed for a short period of time?", is a resounding, "YES!" I always like to tell moms that every little bit counts and that there will always be benefits that linger. That seems to be proven now.
Source: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, Framingham Heart Study
