Breastfed Babies Less Likely to Deal with Health Issues from Chronic Inflammation

Previous studies have discussed the benefits of breastfeeding. However, this option may not always be possible for some mothers with certain medical conditions. It is also used less among uninsured families. 

Researchers at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., have found that breastfeeding your child could carry positive effects on their health decades later, including reduced risk of chronic inflammation associated with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

"Specifically, we are looking at the effects of these early factors on later levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a biomarker associated with risk for cardiovascular and metabolic disease," said lead study author Molly W. Metzger, Ph.D., and assistant professor at the Bown School, in a news release. "Comparing the long-term effects of breastfeeding to the effects of clinical trials of statin therapy, we find breastfeeding to exert effects that are as large or larger."

For the study, researchers used data from the U.S. National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, which looked at parent surveys and blood samples that provided CPR measurements.

Researchers said they believe the right prenatal care is also an important approach to preventing certain health issues throughout pregnancy.

"...we know that uninsured women receive less prenatal care than insured women," said Metzger added. "So here in Missouri and elsewhere, expanding Medicaid eligibility would be one clear step in the right direction."

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.