Highlights
- •Lactation may reverse pregnancy-induced metabolic changes, protecting against hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes.
- •A history of lactation is associated with less extensive subclinical and clinical cardiovascular disease.
- •The hormonal and adipokine profiles and the increased energy expenditure may explain the impact on maternal metabolism.
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. The identification
of protective factors against cardiovascular disease is important with regard to public
health policies. Lactation has multiple beneficial effects for both mother and child.
This review summarizes the evidence on the association between lactation and maternal
cardiovascular risk in later life. Lactation may help to reverse the metabolic and
cardiovascular changes that take place during pregnancy. Overall, lactation seems
to exert a protective effect against the development of hypertension, metabolic syndrome,
and diabetes, whilst data on postpartum weight and lipidemic profile are less conclusive.
Both subclinical and clinical cardiovascular disease are negatively associated with
a history of lactation. Increased energy expenditure and a favorable hormonal and
adipokine profile during lactation may explain these associations.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 23, 2019
Accepted:
January 22,
2019
Received in revised form:
January 9,
2019
Received:
November 21,
2018
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
