From the Guidelines
Breastfeeding has a positive effect on cholesterol levels, with long-term follow-up studies showing that individuals who were breastfed have sustained cardiovascular health benefits, including lower cholesterol levels 1. The benefits of breastfeeding on cholesterol levels are thought to be due to the unique composition of human milk, which contains a range of bioactive factors that can influence lipid metabolism and cardiovascular health 1.
Key Findings
- Breastfeeding is associated with lower cholesterol levels in adulthood, as well as a reduced risk of developing metabolic disease, such as childhood obesity and diabetes 1.
- The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant's life, followed by breastfeeding supplemented with complementary foods until the age of two years 1.
- Long-term follow-up studies have found that subjects who were breastfed have sustained cardiovascular health benefits, including lower cholesterol levels, lower BMI, reduced prevalence of type 2 diabetes, and lower carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in adulthood 1.
Dietary Recommendations
Breastfeeding mothers can consider reducing their intake of saturated and trans fats, and increasing their consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to support their overall health and milk production 1. If medication is necessary for cholesterol management, options like statins are typically avoided during breastfeeding due to potential risks to the infant, and instead, alternatives such as plant stanols or sterols, and fibrates like gemfibrozil may be considered under close medical supervision 1.
Conclusion is not allowed, so the answer will be ended here.
From the Research
Effect of Breastfeeding on Cholesterol Levels
- There is limited direct evidence on the effect of breastfeeding on cholesterol levels in the provided studies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- However, study 6 investigated the relationship between maternal dietary patterns and human milk composition, finding that dietary patterns were correlated with some milk components, such as fatty acids.
- Study 4 noted that the fat content of breastmilk varies somewhat, but the carbohydrate, protein, fat, calcium, and iron contents do not change much, even if the mother is short of these in her diet.
- While the studies do not directly address the effect of breastfeeding on cholesterol levels, they suggest that maternal nutrition and dietary patterns may influence human milk composition, which could potentially impact the infant's cholesterol levels 6.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the relationship between breastfeeding and cholesterol levels.