1.
Duration of Lactation and Maternal Risk of Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Tørris, C, Bjørnnes, AK
Nutrients. 2020;(9)
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death of women across all ages, and targeting modifiable risk factors, such as those comprised in metabolic syndrome (MetS) (e.g., waist circumference, lipid profile, blood pressure, and blood glucose), is of great importance. An inverse association between lactation and CVD has been suggested, and lactation may decrease the risk of MetS. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined how lactation may affect the development and prevalence of MetS in women. A literature search was performed using Cinahl, Embase, Web of Science, and PubMed. A total of 1286 citations were identified, and finally, ten studies (two prospective and eight cross-sectional) were included. Seven studies (two prospective and five cross-sectional) revealed associations between lactation and MetS, suggesting that breastfeeding might prevent or improve metabolic health and have a protective role in MetS prevention. This protective role might be related to the duration of lactation; however, a lack of controlling for potential confounders, such as parity, might inflict the results. The pooled effect was non-conclusive. Additional research is required to further explore the duration of lactation and its potential role in improving or reversing MetS and its components.
2.
Breastfeeding and Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review.
Wisnieski, L, Kerver, J, Holzman, C, Todem, D, Margerison-Zilko, C
Journal of human lactation : official journal of International Lactation Consultant Association. 2018;(3):515-525
Abstract
BACKGROUND The beneficial effect of breastfeeding on individual components of the metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents has been reported, but it is unknown if there is an association between being breastfed and metabolic syndrome as a whole. Research aim: This systematic review was performed to assess quality and strength of evidence for the association between being breastfed and the development of metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents. METHODS Articles were obtained from searches using PubMed and Embase databases, as well as from secondary searches through reference lists. Study quality was assessed using a three-level quality rating system. RESULTS Of 11 studies reviewed, 7 found a protective association between breastfeeding and metabolic syndrome and 4 found no association. There was no clear dose-response relationship between duration of breastfeeding and metabolic syndrome risk and insufficient evidence to demonstrate an added effect of being exclusively breastfed. The overall quality of the articles was moderate. In general, lower quality articles found no significant association, whereas higher quality articles found a significant association. CONCLUSION Our review demonstrated a limited amount of high-quality research on the relationship between being breastfed and development of metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents. The evidence presented in this review suggests that being breastfed may be protective against metabolic syndrome, but further research with improvements in study design, such as improved measurement of breastfeeding and the use of prospectively collected data, will improve our understanding of this relationship.