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Maternal (Expert Forum)
breast feeding and maternal serum cholesterol
Patient medical question and answer from The Maternal and Child Health Forum. Health topic area and articles about newborn care
breast feeding and maternal serum cholesterol
by Suzane__0, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
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.)
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.)
