Korean J Fam Med.  2018 Sep;39(5):273-278. 10.4082/kjfm.17.0023.

Association between Breastfeeding and Prevalence of Diabetes in Korean Parous Women: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2010–2014

• Kim HN
• Jung YA
• Kang LL
• Park HK
• Hwang HS
• Park KY

• KMID: 2422105
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.17.0023

Abstract

BACKGROUND
It is well known that breastfeeding has a significant impact on the health of mothers and children. With the growing importance of breastfeeding, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between breastfeeding and the prevalence of diabetes in Korean parous women.
METHODS
The data of 5,448 premenopausal parous women aged 20-49 years who agreed to participate in the 5th-6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed in this study. Control group included women who had not breastfed. The subjects who had breastfed were classified into three groups based on the duration of breastfeeding: 0-6 months, 6-12 months, and >12 months. The variables included age, body mass index, education level, income, alcohol drinking, smoking, family history of diabetes, use of oral contraceptives, the number of pregnancies, and regular exercise.
RESULTS
Among the subjects, the prevalence of diabetes was significantly lower in women who had breastfed compared to those who had not, with an odds ratio of 0.534 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.289-0.976) in women who breastfed for 0-6 months and 0.575 (95% CI, 0.321-0.990) in women who breastfed for 6-12 months (both P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
The present study found a reduced prevalence of diabetes in women who had breastfed compared to those who had not. However, no association between the duration of breastfeeding and the prevalence of diabetes could be found.

Keyword

Breast Feeding; Diabetes Mellitus; Parity; Prevalence

MeSH Terms

Alcohol Drinking
Body Mass Index
Breast Feeding*
Child
Contraceptives, Oral
Diabetes Mellitus
Education
Female
Humans
Korea*
Mothers
Nutrition Surveys*
Odds Ratio
Parity
Pregnancy
Prevalence*
Smoke
Smoking
Contraceptives, Oral
Smoke