メディエイゴ

Breast feeding(1) for a period of thirteen months or more has been shown to reduce the mother’s the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA)(2), according to(3) new data presented today at EULAR 2007, the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology(4) in Barcelona, Spain. In the study, the longer the breast feeding period, the lower the mother’s risk of developing RA in later life(5). Comparable(6) use of oral contraceptives(7) (OCs) or hormone replacement therapy(8) (HRT) did not show a significant(9) effect on the risk of developing RA.

Lead researcher(10) Dr Mitra Keshavarz, of Malm? Hospital University, Sweden, said of the study, “Whilst(11) other studies suggest that hormonal factors(12) play a part(13) in the development of RA, and we know that pregnancy(14) can result in(15) an improvement(16) in RA symptoms(17), we wanted to investigate(18) the long term effect(19) of breast-feeding. This study specifically(20) highlights(21) the potential(22) of naturally-induced(23) hormones in protecting individuals(24) from developing RA in the future. Furthermore(25), it adds to the growing body of evidence(26) in favour of(27) breast feeding and its positive health implications(28) ? this time demonstrating its protective benefits(29) for the mother.”

The study found that breast feeding for 13 or more months was associated with(30) a reduced risk of developing RA (odds ratio(31) 0.46; confidence interval(32) 95% 0.24-0.91). For women with between 1 and 12 months history of breast feeding, the odds ratio was 0.74, with a 95% confidence interval (0.45-1.20) compared directly to(33) those who had never breast fed.

The data was taken from a community-based health study(34) incorporating(35) information from the Swedish National Hospital Discharge(36) and the National Cause of Death(37) Register(38) between 1991 and 1996, comparing health information from 136 women who later developed RA with that of 544 controls(39).