Arthritis: Breast-Feeding Lower Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis: In the 18-year follow-up Harvard Nurses' Health Study of over 120,000 women, Eliz. Karlson reports in the 11/04 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism that breast-feeding lowers the risk of rheumatoid arthritis even decodes later.  Also, the longer the nursing, the lower the risk. Also, women with irregular cycles at ages 30-35 had a greater risk of rheumatoid arthritis later in life. Those breast-feeding 13-23 months were 1/5 at likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis as those not breast-feeding. Breast-feeding at least 2 years in all reduced risk by 50%. Oral contraceptives and hormone therapy didn't affect the rheumatoid arthritis risk. 

Breast Cancer: Breastfeeding Major Positive Factor Decreasing It: Western women could reduce their breast cancer risk by nearly 60 per cent if they returned to pre-industrial levels of fertility and breastfeeding. The new findings help explain why breast cancer, virtually unknown 200 years ago, is now a major killer. Having an average of six children and breastfeeding them for two years would reduce the incidence of breast cancer to third world levels 19^th century nuns had 6.3% breast cancer, similar to modern women. Cancer Research UK pooling data from 47 studies - involving over 150,000 women in 30 countries - has conclusively proved the link. Returning to pre-industrial levels of fertility and breastfeeding would slash the current UK rate of breast cancer from 6.3 per cent to 2.7 per cent, the researchers estimate. For each child a woman has, her risk of the disease declines by 7.0 per cent. On top of this, for every year that she breast feeds, her risk declines by 4.3 per cent. Lancet 360:186, 7/02

Heart: Huge 16 Years Nurses Study Finds 19% Fewer Heart Attacks: The massive Harvard Nurses Study following 96,648 female nurses for 16 years found that after correction for other factors those who had spent at least two years breastfeeding were 19% less likely to suffer a heart attack than those who hadn't breastfed at all. Steube A, et al. 2/10/07 Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine annual meeting.  The lead author speculated that breastfeeding helps to get rid of excess fat and fatty aicds stored up during pregnancy.  

Heart: Poor Quality Study Encourages Under 4 Months Breast Feeding: A small 300 person study of healthy adults ages 20-28 with ultrasounds by the University of Birmingham (England) claims that those breast-fed over 4 months had more evidence of hardening of arteries, i.e. stiffer arteries. British Medical Journal 322: 643, 2001. Ed: The chance of this being a real discovery of a significant disadvantage of longer breastfeeding is extremely small. 

Lupus Risk: Breastfeeding Lowers: 241 lupus patients vs. 321 controls shows lower incidence of lupus in women who breastfeed. The risk decreases further for women who breastfed longer or more than one baby. Arthritis & Rheumatism 46(7) 2002.

Post-Partum Depression Caused by C-Sections and Lack of Breast-Feeding: A large study of 2730 Norwegian women found the prevalence of depression 60% higher in the postpartum period after controlling for risk factors of depression without controlling for these factors, depression was actually a little higher in the non-postpartum women (13.4% vs. 8.9%). Depression in postpartum and non-postpartum women: prevalence and risk factors. M Eberhard-Gran, A Eskild, K Tambs, SO Sanuelsen, S Opjuordsmoen. Acta Psych Scan 2002, 106:426. Other studies are mixed although this study is one of the few with a control group.

Post-Partum Depression Much Lower in Breastfeeding Women: (OR 12.4) in the Norwegian study. Having a past history of depression, a poor partner-relationship, more stressful life events, and 1^st delivery all associated with depression. None of the other three studies with a control group from the same population found higher postpartum depression. Higher depression was also found with C-section vs. vaginal delivery in this study. Similar findings for both lack of breast feeding and C-section were reported in:  Links between early postpartum mood and postnatal depression. P Hannah, D Adams, A Lee, V Glover, M Sandler. Brit J Psychiatry 6/92;160:777-780. Surprisingly, a past history of pressured or forced intercourse (rape) was not associated with depression in either group in the Norwegian study.

Post-Partum Depression Higher for C-Section or Formula Feeding: In a study of 209 women who gave birth, formula feeding in place of breastfeeding, a history of depression, and cigarette smoking were all significant risk factors for an elevated Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score. Risk factors for postpartum depression: a retrospective investigation at 4-weeks postnatal and a review of the literature. McCoy SJ, et al. Oklahoma State University. sjmccoy98@aol.com. J Am Osteo Assn 2006 Apr;106(4):193-8.

Weight: Breast-Feeding, Exercise Help Lose Pregnancy Weight Gain: In a 5-10 year follow-up of 540 US women found that women who breast-fed and women who participated in aerobic exercise also had significantly lower weight gains. Obstet Gynecol 2002 Aug;100(2):245-52

Thomas E. Radecki, M.D., J.D.

www.modern-psychiatry.com

Email: c4tf@hotmail.com