Pregnancy increases both cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Following delivery, cholesterol and triglyceride levels gradually return to normal so that by 9 months postpartum they have assumed prepregnancy levels.
Women who formula feed maintain an elevated serum triglyceride level for three times longer than those who breastfeed. HDL cholesterol ( the "good" cholesterol) levels are also higher in lactating women.
References
Whittaker,P. Cholesterol levels and the Breastfeeding Mom, JAMA Feb 17, 1989, Vol 261,No 7: pp 1064
Darmody JM, Postle AD. Lipid Metabolism in Pregnancy. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, March 1982, Vol 89 : pp 211-215
Knopp RH, Bergelin RO et al, Effects of Pregnancy, Postpartum Lactation, and Oral Contraceptive Use on the Lipoprotein Cholesterol/Triglyceride Ratio, Metabolism, Vol 34, No 10, 1985 : pp 893-899
Laureen Lawlor-Smith
BMBS IBCLC
South Australia
|