Arthritis risk halved with prolonged breastfeeding
Source: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology 2007; Barcelona, Spain:
13-16 June 2007
Investigating whether breastfeeding could help prevent rheumatoid
arthritis in women. 
MedWire News: Breastfeeding for at least 13 months could more than halve
a woman’s risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), research suggests.
Swedish researchers from Malmö University Hospital collected information
on over 17,000 women who had taken part in a community-based health
survey between 1991 and 1996.
They then cross-referenced this information with data held on several
registers and identified 136 women who developed RA, each of whom was
matched with four female health survey participants for age and year of
screening.
A longer history of breastfeeding was associated with a reduced risk of
RA, the team reported at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology in
Barcelona, Spain.
Women who breastfed for at least 13 months had a significantly reduced
odds ratio (OR) of 0.46 for RA compared with those who never breastfed,
and there was a trend toward benefits among those who breastfed for 1 to
12 months.
“This study specifically highlights the potential of naturally induced
hormones in protecting individuals from developing RA in the future,”
commented lead researcher Mitra Keshavarz.
“Furthermore, it adds to the growing body of evidence in favor of
breastfeeding and its positive health implications—this time
demonstrating its protective benefits for the mother.”
Posted: 20 June 2007
 
 
Esther G
 

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