Breastfeeding offers diverse health protections for both infants and nursing mothers
In short: A comprehensive meta-analysis examined the lifelong effects of breastfeeding on children and women, finding that it provides significant protection against various diseases. The research highlighted benefits ranging from reduced risks of child infections and dental malocclusion to potential improvements in intelligence and a lower risk of breast cancer for mothers.
The study suggests that exclusive breastfeeding can reduce the likelihood of childhood overweight and diabetes, though it did not find links to asthma or high blood pressure. Interestingly, longer breastfeeding duration was associated with an increase in tooth decay.
These findings were synthesized from multiple meta-analyses of epidemiological and biological data. However, because these are meta-analyses of existing studies, the results reflect the collective evidence available rather than a single controlled trial.
Why it matters: Breastfeeding provides complex, multi-generational health benefits that extend well beyond early infancy for both parents and children.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Research: Victora et al. (2016). Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect. Lancet (London, England).
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