More damage control needed probably...

> Breastfeeding Effect on Blood Pressure May Be Overestimated
>
> NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Nov 20 - Previous reports have linked breastfeeding during infancy with reduced blood pressure later in life. But findings from a new review article suggest that the effect of breastfeeding on blood pressure is at most modest.
> So why the well-known association? Dr. Christopher G. Owen and colleagues, from the St. George's Hospital in London, believe that it may partly stem from publication bias. In their review, it was the small studies that were most likely to show a blood pressure difference based on feeding status as well as the ones most likely to be published.
> As reported in the November 22nd issue of the British Medical Journal, Dr. Owen's team conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 24 studies that looked the effects of breastfeeding on blood pressure.
> In the pooled analysis, the authors did find a difference in systolic blood pressures between former breastfeeders and non-feeders. However, the studies varied greatly in their estimate of the difference (p < 0.001).
> Studies with fewer than 300 subjects reported an average difference in systolic blood pressure between breastfeeders and non-feeders of 2.05 mmHg. In studies with 300 to 1000 participants, this difference fell to 1.13 mmHg. Finally, in the largest studies, which included more than 1000 subjects, the difference was only 0.16 mm Hg.
> To determine if publication bias had occurred, the researchers used two standard tests-Egger and Begg. The Egger test was statistically significant for publication bias, whereas the Begg test was not.
> The findings suggest that the effect of breastfeeding on blood pressure is "of limited clinical or public health importance," the author state. Still, there are many other health benefits that continue to make a strong case for breastfeeding, they add.
> BMJ 2003;327:1189-1192.
>
> http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/464802?mpid=21635

             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html