haley wrote:

> · Does breastfeeding decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, and do you
> educate parents about these benefits?
> · Have you come across any information about negative effects regarding
> breastfeeding and cardiovascular health?
> 
> This topic is interesting since heart disease is so prevalent in our society.
> Wouldn't it be interesting to find out that we can prevent such diseases right
> from birth? Any information will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Haley there was a session presented at ISRHML (International Society for
Research in Human Milk and Lactation) in September 04 on the  current
evidence base linking breastfeeding to cardiovascular disease in later life
(speaker Dave Leon). He says the current data is very limited. There was a
recent meta analysis of 6 cohorts with CVD mortality as the end point. It
found little evidence that BF had any consistent effect. (Martin et al. 2004
Eur heart Journal. Vol 25 p 778-786)
Leon talked also about Owens meta analysis you quoted and found many
methodological problems (variation in the measurement of BF status,
heterogeneity in the content of infant foods in non BF subjects over time
and between populations, and the potential for confounding factors in
particular socioeconomic status).
Work by Singh et al. (2004, Lancet, vol 363:1571-1578) does indicate that BF
is associated with lower blood pressure and a favorable lipid profile in
later life (although he also stated some methodological problems) Dave Leon
states that "Whether this finding translates into a reduced risk of CVD per
se is less certain"
Although the studies so far are interesting and seem to point is this
direction a lot more work is to be done yet before anyone can claim BF (on
its own) has a preventive effect.

Cathy Fetherston PhD IBCLC
Perth Western Australia

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