It is interesting all this.  On the one hand, we have this study and stiff
arteries and ?does this lead to greater risk of atherosclerosis.  On the
other hand, we have Lucas also demonstrating that breastfed babies
(prematures) have less hypertension as teenagers (a risk for
atherosclerosis), studies showing that those not breastfed are at higher
risk of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes (increased risk of atherosclerosis),
and studies showing increased risk of obesity in those not breastfed (risk
factor for atherosclerosis), the latter directly related to how long the
child was breastfed.  So what do we conclude from this?  Beats me, but I
find it tremendously interesting that these other studies got nowhere the
publicity that this study got.

Dr. Lucas was interviewed on national radio in Toronto this evening.  He was
quite positive about breastfeeding, and emphasized that breastfeeding
protected against certain cancers, resulted in better cognitive development
and so on.  He said that "prolonged breastfeeding" was, in the old days,
associated with a different diet than we now have in Western countries, and
that the brunt of his study should make us change the weaning diet, not
discourage breastfeeding.  Unfortunately, this is not what the newspapers
are writing (why am I surprised?).

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC

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