Breastfeeding Directly Related to Lead Release From Bone
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Introduction
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Mar 01 - Women who exclusively breastfeed their
infants have higher blood lead levels than women who engage in mixed feeding
practices or those who do not breastfeed, according to a recent report. The
findings support the hypothesis that lactation stimulates lead release from
bone to blood.
Dr. Mauricio Hern ndez-Avila, from the Instituto Nacional de Salud P blica
in Morelos, Mexico, and colleagues measured lead levels in blood and in
bone, using K x-ray fluorescence, in 425 women following pregnancy. The
women were also surveyed regarding their breastfeeding practices.
The average blood lead level at delivery was 8.4 micrograms/dL. After
peaking at 1 month after delivery, blood lead levels decreased as the time
from delivery increased. Furthermore, blood lead levels were directly
related to bone lead levels, the authors note in the March 1st issue of the
American Journal of Epidemiology.
After adjusting for bone lead level and environmental exposure, women who
exclusively breastfed their infants had blood lead levels that were 0.4 and
1.4 micrograms/dL higher than those of women who engaged in mixed feeding
practices and women who had stopped lactation, respectively.
While the findings suggest that breastfeeding promotes lead release from
bone, the benefits of nursing clearly outweigh the risks associated with
lead exposure, the investigators emphasize. Furthermore, previous findings
indicate that lead levels are actually higher in infant formula than in
breast milk.
"Our data underscore the relevance of searching for and implementing
procedures that reduce lead exposure from endogenous sources as well as
environmental sources," the researchers conclude.
Am J Epidemiol 2002;155:420-428.
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