Does breast-feeding (breastfeeding) reduce the risk of colon cancer, hypertension (high blood pressure), or respiratory infections in mothers and infants?

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Breastfeeding Reduces Risk of Respiratory Infections and Colon Cancer, But Not Hypertension

Breastfeeding significantly reduces the risk of respiratory infections in infants and colon cancer (inflammatory bowel disease) in children, but there is no established evidence linking breastfeeding to reduced hypertension risk in either mothers or infants.

Benefits for Infants

Respiratory Infections

  • Breastfed infants have a 22% reduction in respiratory infections compared to non-breastfed infants (adjusted incidence density ratio 0.78). 1, 2
  • Breast milk transmits protective immunoglobulins to the newborn, providing direct immune protection against respiratory pathogens. 1
  • Observational studies in North America and Europe consistently demonstrate reduced rates of respiratory infection in breastfed infants. 1

Colon Cancer/Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

  • Breastfeeding for more than 6 months reduces the odds of developing Crohn's disease by 50% (OR 0.50; 95% CI 0.23-1.11) and ulcerative colitis by similar margins. 1
  • The protective effect shows a duration-response relationship: breastfeeding for >12 months decreases odds for Crohn's disease by 90% (aOR 0.10; 95% CI 0.04-0.30) and ulcerative colitis by 84% (aOR 0.16; 0.08-0.31) in Asian populations. 1
  • An Italian study demonstrated that lack of breastfeeding increases risk of ulcerative colitis (OR 1.5; 95% CI 1.1-2.1) and Crohn's disease (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.1-3.3). 1
  • A New Zealand case-control study confirmed breastfeeding was protective against IBD with Crohn's disease OR 0.55 (0.41-0.74) and ulcerative colitis OR 0.71 (0.52-0.96). 1

Additional Infant Benefits

  • Breastfeeding reduces rates of otitis media (OR 0.39-0.61), gastroenteritis (adjusted OR 0.60), and atopic eczema (adjusted OR 0.54). 1
  • Protection against necrotizing enterocolitis, reduced infant mortality, and lower risk of childhood obesity are well-established. 1, 3
  • Exclusive breastfeeding for at least 2 months protects against childhood overweight, and 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding protects against adolescent overweight. 1

Benefits for Mothers

Cancer Risk Reduction

  • Breastfeeding reduces maternal breast cancer risk by 19% (OR 0.81,95% CI 0.77-0.86). 2
  • Ovarian cancer risk is reduced by 30% (OR 0.70,95% CI 0.64-0.75). 1, 2
  • These protective effects are dose-dependent, with longer breastfeeding duration providing greater protection. 1

Metabolic Benefits

  • Breastfeeding reduces type 2 diabetes risk by 32% (OR 0.68,95% CI 0.57-0.82), particularly in women with gestational diabetes history. 2
  • More rapid return of uterine tone and improved postpartum weight loss occur with breastfeeding. 1
  • Lactational amenorrhea provides natural birth spacing. 1

No Evidence for Hypertension Prevention

There is no established evidence in the provided guidelines or research that breastfeeding reduces hypertension risk in either mothers or infants. While breastfeeding prevents numerous chronic diseases including obesity and diabetes (which are risk factors for hypertension), direct evidence linking breastfeeding to reduced hypertension rates is absent from current high-quality guidelines. 1

Clinical Recommendations

Duration and Exclusivity

  • Exclusive breastfeeding for approximately 6 months, followed by continued breastfeeding with complementary foods for 2 years or beyond, is recommended. 1, 2
  • The WHO endorses exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, then supplemented breastfeeding until age 2 years. 1

Implementation Strategies

  • Effective breastfeeding programs use 30-90 minute individual or group sessions led by specially trained nurses or lactation specialists, beginning during the prenatal period. 1
  • Sessions should cover benefits, basic physiology, positioning and latch-on techniques, and strategies to overcome common barriers. 1
  • Hospital practices supporting breastfeeding include early maternal-newborn contact, rooming-in, and avoiding formula supplementation. 1
  • Commercial discharge packs containing formula samples reduce exclusive breastfeeding rates and should be avoided. 1

Common Pitfalls

  • Premature weaning due to avoidable problems like breast pain and concerns about milk supply remains common. 4
  • Mothers receive inaccurate and inconsistent information from different healthcare professionals, creating barriers to successful breastfeeding. 5
  • Few true contraindications exist: HIV infection in developed countries, current alcohol/drug dependence, and infant galactosemia are the primary contraindications. 1, 6

References

1
Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

2
Guideline

Breast Cancer Risk Reduction through Breastfeeding

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2026

4
Research

Breastfeeding.

Obstetrics and gynecology clinics of North America, 2002

6
Research

Breast is best for babies.

Journal of the National Medical Association, 2005

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Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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