breast feeding and maternal serum cholesterol

Posted By Suzanne on February 18, 1999 at 15:41:28:







Could one of the doctors please let me know what is known about the effects
of breastfeeding on the serum cholesterol levels of the mother?  I am
breastfeeding my 8 month old and recently got very high numbers (and
bad HDL/LDL ratio) on a cholesterol test--about 100 points higher than
my results 3 months before pregnancy.  This is despite the fact that my
weight is close to what it was, my diet is very similar (and extremely
low in fat and cholesterol--no red meat, no dairy products, lots of
beans and fish and oat bran), and I exercise for 30 minutes 5 or 6 times
a week.  Could lactation cause a substantial elevation in total
cholesterol?  Or could this be still the residual effect of the elevated
cholesterol levels of pregnancy?  I would much appreciate a response, and
also I would very much like references to any relevant studies.  Is there
any evidence in the medical literature that women who have more children
and/or breastfeed them for longer periods of time have a higher rate of heart
disease?  Thanks very much. (Neither my internist nor my cardiologist knew
the answer to this.)