In the general populace, breastfeeding is linked to a 22% to 24% reduced risk of offspring becoming overweight later in life, spanning from preschool years to adulthood.
This risk reduction shows a dose-response relationship with longer breastfeeding duration, with the lowest risk observed in cases of prolonged, exclusive breastfeeding. Breastfeeding also slows infant growth for up to two years.
However, scientific evidence remains inconclusive regarding whether breastfeeding guards against the onset of overweight and subsequent type 2 diabetes development among offspring of mothers who had diabetes during pregnancy. Moreover, there is insufficient evidence to determine if lactation protects against the later development of type 2 diabetes in women with a history of diabetes during pregnancy.
Given the lack of evidence and conflicting findings regarding the long-term effects of breastfeeding on the future health of women with diabetes during pregnancy and their infants, further research is warranted.
Breastfeeding offers significant long-term health benefits for both mothers and children. Mothers who breastfeed may lower their risk of developing type 2 diabetes and receive protection against breast and ovarian cancer later in life.
Additionally, breastfed infants are less likely to become overweight or develop chronic childhood and adolescent diseases. However, whether breastfeeding provides similar health benefits for mothers with diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes mellitus; GDM) and their offspring remains uncertain due to limited scientific evidence.
Extensive scientific research in the general population demonstrates a strong association between breastfeeding and a 22% to 24% reduced risk of childhood and adolescent overweight. For mothers, lactation may have immediate and long-term favorable effects on metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors. However, evidence of lasting effects is less definitive, despite indications of a lower risk of future type 2 diabetes in women, albeit with inconsistent findings related to postpartum weight retention.
It is crucial to determine the impact of breastfeeding on the future health of these high-risk individuals due to their elevated likelihood of becoming overweight and developing metabolic abnormalities.
Breastfeeding is a modifiable early-life risk factor that may have lasting effects on the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Here, we summarize findings on breastfeeding and overweight in the general population, as well as the components of breast milk that may contribute to slower growth in breastfed infants. In this context, we critically evaluate available data on breastfeeding’s effects on overweight and diabetes development among mothers with diabetes and their infants, along with recommendations for future research.
In developed countries, abundant evidence supports a strong association between breastfeeding and a reduced risk of childhood and adolescent overweight, even after considering maternal obesity and family lifestyle behaviors. Expert consensus panels have concluded that breastfeeding reduces overweight risk by 22% to 24% in children and adolescents. Meta-analyses and evidence reports consistently support a protective effect of breastfeeding against overweight, with greater protection associated with prolonged, exclusive breastfeeding. Moreover, there is a dose-response relationship, with each additional month of breastfeeding correlating with a 4% reduction in overweight risk. The consistency of these findings across different stages of life suggests that breastfeeding may have lasting protective effects, independent of later dietary and physical activity patterns.
Breastfeeding’s protective effect against future overweight may stem from the unique biochemical constituents and nutrient composition of breast milk, which favorably influence infant growth and energy balance regulation. Breastfed infants exhibit slower growth and leaner profiles compared to non-breastfed infants, which persists through childhood and adolescence. While the causal link is not definitive due to ethical considerations, the robustness of the protective association, along with differences in metabolic markers, suggests a possible causal relationship.
However, the protective effects of breastfeeding against overweight may not be as apparent in offspring of women with diabetes during pregnancy. Limited evidence and conflicting findings raise questions about whether breastfeeding provides similar health benefits for these high-risk individuals. Go to: Breastfeeding and Impact on Development of Overweight Infants of Mothers with Diabetes during Pregnancy
The protective effects of breastfeeding observed in the general population may not extend to offspring of women with diabetes during pregnancy, based on scarce evidence. Recommendations from professional bodies suggest breastfeeding for women with previous GDM, although conclusive evidence is lacking. Conflicting findings from studies examining breastfeeding’s effects on the health of offspring of women with diabetes during pregnancy underscore the uncertainty surrounding this issue. While some studies report a higher risk of childhood or adolescent overweight associated with breastfeeding, others find no significant difference or even a lower risk.
Studies comparing breast milk from diabetic mothers with banked donor breast milk have yielded mixed results regarding overweight risk and glucose tolerance among offspring. Some studies report a higher risk of overweight associated with breast milk from diabetic mothers, while others find no significant association. These conflicting findings may stem from various factors, including differences in study design, sample characteristics, and maternal glycemic control.
Overall, the evidence regarding the impact of breastfeeding on overweight development among offspring of women with diabetes during pregnancy remains inconclusive and requires further investigation.
Limited research exists on the impact of breastfeeding on the future development of type 2 diabetes in offspring of mothers with diabetes during pregnancy. Studies in indigenous North American populations suggest a potential protective effect of breastfeeding against type 2 diabetes, although evidence is scarce and inconsistent.
Biologically plausible mechanisms suggest that breast milk from diabetic mothers may influence infant growth and metabolic health. However, the evidence is insufficient to determine whether breastfeeding prevents type 2 diabetes in the offspring of women with diabetes during pregnancy, or if breast milk from diabetic mothers has beneficial or detrimental effects on infant growth and health.
More research is needed to elucidate the relationship between breastfeeding and type 2 diabetes risk among offspring of mothers with diabetes during pregnancy.
Prolonged, exclusive lactation may lead to lower postpartum weight retention and more favorable lipid profiles in lactating women from the general population. Prospective studies consistently report lower postpartum weight retention and greater weight loss among lactating women compared to non-lactating women. Lactation also has immediate beneficial effects on maternal cardiometabolic risk factors, including glucose tolerance and lipid profiles.
Longitudinal studies suggest that lactation may contribute to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes in women, with higher cumulative duration of breastfeeding associated with a lower incidence of diabetes later in life. These findings highlight the potential long-term benefits of breastfeeding for maternal health.
However, less is known about the long-term effects of lactation on the health of mothers with a history of diabetes during pregnancy. Some evidence suggests that lactating women with previous GDM may exhibit more favorable lipid profiles and glucose tolerance in the early postpartum period. However, research on lactation’s long-term effects on diabetes risk among women with a history of diabetes during pregnancy is limited and inconclusive.
Conclusions
Breastfeeding offers significant health benefits for both infants and mothers, yet breastfeeding rates remain suboptimal in many regions. While extensive evidence supports a protective effect of breastfeeding against childhood and adolescent overweight in the general population, the evidence is less clear for offspring of women with diabetes during pregnancy. Moreover, while breastfeeding may confer immediate and long-term health benefits for mothers, especially in terms of glucose tolerance
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