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Association between prolonged breastfeeding and bone mineral density and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women: KNHANES 2010-2011

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Abstract

Summary

This study showed that a negative correlation between duration of breastfeeding and bone mineral density (BMD) in the lumbar spine and prolonged breastfeeding is an independent risk for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. The present study suggests that postmenopausal women with a history of prolonged breastfeeding require more careful screening for osteoporosis.

Introduction

Several studies suggest that breastfeeding and childbirth lead to maternal calcium loss and a decline in BMD. While the association between breastfeeding and BMD immediately after weaning is well-established, the effects of breastfeeding on postmenopausal women have been controversial. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of breastfeeding on bone mineral density (BMD) and the prevalence of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

Methods

The present study was a cross-sectional survey based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2010 and 2011 data. The association between breastfeeding and BMD and osteoporosis was examined in 1222 postmenopausal women.

Results

The duration of breastfeeding and BMD in the lumbar spine showed a negative correlation. The association between duration of breastfeeding and BMD remained significant after adjustment for reproductive factors and other confounding factors (P = 0.008). However, the number of deliveries and age at the time of delivery did not correlate with BMD at any site after adjustment. Moreover, the prevalence of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women with a history of prolonged breastfeeding was significantly higher than that in women with a short history of breastfeeding (≥37 months, OR = 3.292; 95 % CI 1.485–7.299). The prevalence of lumbar spine fracture showed a significant increasing trend with the increase in the duration of breastfeeding.

Conclusion

Prolonged breastfeeding was significantly associated with low BMD in the lumbar spine and higher prevalence of osteoporosis. However, the number of deliveries or age at the time of childbirth did not influence BMD.

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Acknowledgments

We thank all participants for enthusiastically participating in this study.

Grant support

This work was supported by Biomedical Research Institute grant, Kyungpook National University Hospital (2014).

Conflicts of interest

None.

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Author notes

    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea

      I. R. Hwang, Y. K. Choi, J. G. Kim, I. K. Lee, S. W. Kim & K. G. Park

    2. Department of Preventive Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea

      W. K. Lee

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    1. I. R. Hwang
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    2. Y. K. Choi
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    4. J. G. Kim
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    6. S. W. Kim
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    7. K. G. Park
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    Correspondence to S. W. Kim or K. G. Park.

    Additional information

    I. R. Hwang and Y. K. Choi contributed equally to this work.

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    Hwang, I.R., Choi, Y.K., Lee, W.K. et al. Association between prolonged breastfeeding and bone mineral density and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women: KNHANES 2010-2011. Osteoporos Int 27, 257–265 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-015-3292-x

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-015-3292-x

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