http://www.eurekalert.org/releases/ucd-uds040401.html

UC Davis study finds breastfeeding may protect bones in teen-age mothers 
(Sacramento, CA) --Teen-age mothers are in no danger of sacrificing 
their own nutritional health if they choose to breastfeed their babies, 
according to a study by pediatricians at UC Davis School of Medicine and 
Medical Center.The study, funded by the Ambulatory Pediatric Association, is 
being presented April 30 at the annual joint meeting of the 2001 Pediatric 
Academic Societies and American Academy of Pediatrics in Baltimore, Md. 
Maternal bone mineral density typically decreases during breastfeeding 
although levels are replenished once the child is weaned. For teen-age 
mothers who are still developing bone mass at an accelerated rate, some 
evidence indicates they may experience a larger decrease in bone mineral 
density than do adult breastfeeding mothers. The long-term effects of that 
decrease were unknown, but the UC Davis study shows that teen-age mothers who 
breastfed had no signs of bone loss when studied an average of nearly three 
years after their last childbirth."Teen-age mothers are still growing and 
developing," said Caroline Chantry, UC Davis assistant professor of 
pediatrics, who authored the study. "Recognizing the nutritional demands of a 
baby who is breastfeeding, I wanted to look at how lactation specifically 
affects the teens’ bone health later in life, as compared to teen-age moms 
who did not breastfeed and to adults who have not had children." Teens 
currently are less likely to breastfeed than adult mothers, Chantry said, 
partly because of myths surrounding its impact on the young mothers.The UC 
Davis study found that the bone mineral density of mothers who breastfed as 
teens is, in fact, stronger once breastfeeding is concluded than in those who 
did not breastfeed."Until now, we really weren’t sure whether the bones of a 
breastfeeding adolescent could recover from the nutritional rigors of 
breastfeeding, but the results indicate that lactation may actually protect a 
teenager’s bone health," said Chantry. "This finding, coupled with the known 
health benefits both baby and mother receive from breastfeeding, clearly 
underscores the overall advantage for both mother and baby in choosing 
breastfeeding over formula."The study accounted for other demographic and 
lifestyle factors known to affect bone mineral density, such as race, diet, 
weight and exercise, for example. Results revealed that teen-age mothers who 
breastfed actually had five- to seven-percent higher bone mineral density in 
all five areas of the femur that were studied than teen-age mothers who did 
not breastfeed. Bone mineral density in mothers who breastfed as teens was 
not significantly higher than that of women who had no children.Bone density 
is an important component in the overall health of women. During adolescence 
and young adulthood bones mineralize to their peak strength, so any factor 
which results in lessened mineralization could have life-long consequences. 
As women age, bones may become thin, porous and more fragile, a condition 
known as osteoporosis. Without strong bone density, women are more 
susceptible to hip fractures, curvature of the spine and back pain. Women who 
breastfeed are known to be less prone to hip fractures later in life, but it 
is not clear that this is associated with improved bone mineral density. 
Chantry's study is the first to suggest that for mothers who bear children in 
their teens, bone health may actually be improved by choosing to 
breastfeed."Teen mothers may feel confident that they are enhancing their own 
long-term health and their babies’ when they choose breastfeeding," Chantry 
said.

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