http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21639442/


  MSNBC.com 


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
Breast-feeding good for the heart 
Study: Those who nursed likely to have more "good" cholesterol as adults
Reuters
updated 3:22 p.m. ET, Mon., Nov. 5, 2007
ORLANDO, Florida - The list of health benefits to children who were breast-fed 
as babies is growing, with research unveiled on Monday showing they are more 
likely as adults to have higher levels of "good" cholesterol.

Numerous studies have shown babies whose mothers breast-fed them enjoy 
health advantages over formula-fed babies. These include fewer ear, stomach 
or intestinal infections, digestive problems, skin diseases and allergies, and less 
likelihood of developing high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.

Now, a study presented at an American Heart Association meeting found that 
breast-fed babies are better off in two important heart disease risk factors as 
adults than bottle-fed babies — levels of "good" HDL cholesterol and body 
mass index.

The study looked at 962 people, average age 41, taking part in the long-
running Framingham Heart Study centered on Framingham, Massachusetts. 
About a quarter of the children were breast-fed for at least a month as babies.

Those who were breast-fed were 55 percent more likely to have high average 
levels of high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, cholesterol in adulthood than low 
levels.

Those who were breast-fed on average had a lower body mass index, or BMI, 
as adults — 26.1 compared to 26.9 for the bottle-fed counterparts. Adults 
with a BMI above 25 are considered overweight and at higher risk for heart 
disease.


Having a higher HDL is considered protective against cardiovascular disease 
like stroke and heart attack. People with a lower BMI also are have a risk for 
cardiovascular disease.

These cholesterol and BMI differences were modest but significant, according 
to Dr. Nisha Parikh of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, who led 
the study.

"The results are intriguing in that they point to this concept that early 
nutrition or early environmental exposures may affect long-term health," Parikh 
said in an interview.

Breast-feeding was not associated with benefits in other heart disease risk 
factors that the researchers examined, including total cholesterol and blood 
pressure.

The mothers of all the people tracked in the research were also part of the 
Framingham study

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome