Exposure to Breast Milk in Infancy and Risk of Adult Breast Cancer: A Summary of the Evidence

Chapter
First Online:
Part of the Nutrition and Health book series (NH)

Abstract

There has been considerable interest in the health-related benefits of breastfeeding for the infant. While there are many established short-term benefits of breastfeeding for infant nutrition and health [1], the potential long-term benefits regarding chronic disease and cancer morbidity in adulthood, including risk of breast cancer, are still unclear. In this chapter, we review the epidemiologic evidence regarding the association between being breastfed in infancy and risk of short-term and long-term health outcomes, focusing specifically on adult breast cancer. We also present the results of a meta-analysis of published studies on breastfeeding in infancy and risk of adult breast cancer, updating a 2005 meta-analysis on this topic [2]. Finally, we make recommendations for improving future epidemiologic studies that investigate the effects of exposure to breast milk in infancy on longer-term health.

Keywords

Breast cancer Lactation Breastfeeding Menopausal status Risk factors 

Abbreviations

RR

Relative risk

CI

Confidence interval

US

United States

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Slone Epidemiology CenterBoston UniversityBostonUSA
  2. 2.Norris Cotton Cancer Center and Hood Center for Children and FamiliesGeisel school of Medicine at DartmouthLebanonUSA

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